Okoze (English spelling) devilfish

Japanese: オコゼ - おこぜ（英語表記）devilfish

Refers mainly to marine fish belonging to the families Incubidae and Scorpaeniidae. Many of them have grotesque bodies, extremely uneven heads, and thorns and protrusions. Many of these thorns are poisonous, and if you are stung, you will feel intense pain. Other than the Incubidae (illustration), they are not edible. [Toru Taniuchi]
[Folklore]
It is said that the mountain god likes to see stonefish, and that if hunters, speculators, and herders who work in the mountains offer one to them and pray, their wishes will come true. This tradition is particularly strong among hunters, who dry out the fish, wrap it in paper and carry it in their pockets when they go out hunting.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

おもにオニオコゼ科，ハオコゼ科に属する海産魚を指す。体型がグロテスクで，頭部の凹凸が激しく，しかもとげや突起物をもつものが多い。またそのとげに毒をもつものも多く，刺されると激しい痛みを感ずる。オニオコゼ（イラスト）以外は食用としない。【谷内透】
［民俗］
　山の神はオコゼを見ることを好むと伝えられ，山で仕事をする狩人，山師，放牧者などがこれを供えて祈願すると望みがかなうといわれている。とくに狩猟者にこの伝承が強く残り，この魚を干し固めたものを紙に包んで懐中して狩りに出る。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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