Issie: Japan’s Lake Monster

Lake Ikeda on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan is home to Issie, a lake monster named after the Scottish Nessie. Since the early 1960s, witnesses have reported a large, long-necked creature in this volcanic crater lake. Issie has become a local legend and tourist attraction.

The Lake

Lake Ikeda formed in a volcanic crater approximately 5,500 years ago. It is the largest lake on Kyushu, reaching depths of over 200 meters. The water is dark and visibility is limited, creating conditions similar to other lakes associated with monster legends.

The lake contains large eels that can grow to substantial sizes, providing a potential food source for a large predator—or a possible explanation for sightings.

First Sightings

Modern sightings began in the early 1960s. In 1961, visitors reported seeing two humps moving through the water, attached to a large body beneath the surface. Similar reports followed over the next decades.

The name “Issie” was coined in reference to Nessie, reflecting awareness of the Loch Ness phenomenon.

Description

Witnesses describe Issie as 10 to 20 meters long, with a long neck and small head. The body is dark, appearing black or very dark gray. Multiple humps are often reported, consistent with a serpentine creature swimming with vertical undulations.

Notable Encounters

In 1978, approximately twenty people simultaneously observed something large moving through the lake. The sighting lasted several minutes and was reported to local media.

In the 1990s, the mayor of nearby Ibusuki offered a reward for proof of Issie’s existence, sparking increased interest and reporting.

A statue of Issie stands near the lake, and the creature has become a symbol of the region’s tourism industry.

Explanations

Skeptics propose that sightings represent misidentified giant eels, of which the lake has a known population. Large eels swimming at the surface could present a serpentine appearance.

Others suggest logs, wave patterns, or boats could explain some sightings.

Proponents note that the consistency of descriptions over decades and the deep, unexplored waters of the volcanic lake leave room for an unknown species.

Assessment

Issie represents the globalization of lake monster legends. Whether inspired by knowledge of Loch Ness or an independent phenomenon, sightings continue at Lake Ikeda.

The lake’s volcanic origin, depth, and murky waters make it a plausible habitat for something large and unknown. Whether Issie is a genuine mystery or a tourist attraction that has taken on a life of its own, the creature has become part of Japanese cryptid lore.