OKINAWA, Aug 19, 2025 (News On Japan) - A dangerous fish known to occasionally attack people was spotted in the port of Kunigami Village, Okinawa, sparking warnings after video of the sighting spread widely on social media.
The fish, with a black body, yellow markings, and glaring white eyes that give it an angry expression, was identified as a titan triggerfish, or gomamongara. A witness who filmed the encounter said, "I noticed a big fish, and when I looked closer, I realized it was a gomamongara, so I quickly recorded it." The video, once posted online, was viewed more than 21.9 million times.
On social media, divers described it as "scarier than sharks" and shared accounts of nearly drowning after being attacked. Footage from diving sites shows the fish charging relentlessly at divers and even biting their fins.
Experts say the aggression stems from its breeding behavior. According to Masayuki Ishibashi, an aquarium staff member at the Shimonoseki Marine Science Museum Kaikyokan, "From spring to summer, during the breeding season, they become highly territorial and aggressive. Their thick, sturdy teeth allow them to bite through hard objects." In Japan, the fish inhabits seas south of the Kanto region.
Ishibashi advised that if encountered, "the best approach is to observe it from a distance and avoid provoking it."
Source: FNN
