Abstract
This database compiles representations of aquatic animals and fishing scenes from prehistoric and protohistoric Japan, spanning the Jōmon (ca. 14,500– 1000 BCE), Yayoi (1000 BCE–250 CE) and Kofun (250–710 CE) periods, as well as the Epi-Jōmon (340 BCE–CE 700), Satsumon (600–1200 CE) and Okhotsk periods (500–1000 CE) in Hokkaido. The corpus includes 120 representations: 108 depictions of aquatic animals and 12 of fishing activities. These images are on a diverse range of media, including clay pots, swords, dōtaku (bronze bells), haniwa (clay figurines), other clay objects, wooden boards, stone fragments, beads, bones, teeth, petroglyphs, bronze mirrors, and tomb wall decorations. Data were extracted from excavation reports, museum collections and academic publications. The database includes only those examples for which visual documentation was available. Entries are classified following identifications proposed in the existing literature. This database offers considerable potential for future expansion and use in comparative iconographic studies, validation of archaeological interpretations, and interdisciplinary research exploring maritime cultures and fishing practices in early Japan. Furthermore, its value extends to studies of related themes in other regions and periods, facilitating cross-cultural comparisons and contributing to a deeper understanding of human interactions with the aquatic environment.