Namazu-e publication began immediately after the earthquake, spread rapidly among the common people as a gofu (talisman) to protect their lives and to remove anxiety and many works were made within a two month period until the fad subsided.
地震の発生直後から出版が始められた鯰絵は身を守る護符として、あるいは不安を取り除くためのまじないとして庶民の間に急速に広まり、流行が収束するまでのおよそ2ヶ月の間に多数の作品が作られた。