Rabiot, a giant Pacific octopus caught near the island of Hokkaido, had “guessed” the result of the national side’s matches against Columbia, Poland and Senegal.
But the sea creature will not be predicting the outcome of Japan’s knockout stage fixture against Belgium as its owner had it gutted and sent to the market, Japanese media reported.
An image of a dismembered octopus hanging up in a marketplace was shared widely on social media alongside reports of Rabiot’s apparent death.
It was not immediately clear if Rabiot was definitely the octopus in the picture.
The octopus’s owner, fisherman Kimjo Abe, 51, said his business was more important than keeping Rabiot alive.
According to Soranews24, he added: “I hope that the second Rabiot will also give all the outcomes correctly and that Japan will go all the way.”
Rabiot’s selection method involved being placed in a paddling pool which was divided into three sections: Japan, their opponent or a draw.
Its prediction would be determined by what part of the pool it chose to swim towards.
