Culture Kappa

Appearance

They are believed to be the size and shape of a young teenager, with a cat-like face featuring a snout; their hair is bobbed, and a saucer-like depression on top of their heads contains water. It is said that when the water supply diminishes, the Kappa 's supernatural powers on land are enfeebled. Their slippery bodies are covered with bluish-green scales, emitting a fishy odour. They have webbed hands and feet. Kappa can easily be recognised by their ability to rotate arm and leg joints freely. Other variations are described as having beaks and wings or as resembling turtles.

Behaviour

In some local areas, Kappa are said to help humans with rice planting and irrigation, and they can be befriended in exchange for gifts, particularly food. Kappa are supposed to be fond of cucumbers, aubergines, nattō (fermented soybeans), pumpkins and soba (buckwheat noodles). Japanese sushi rolls with cucumbers are, therefore, called kappamaki (河童巻). Usually, Kappa are regarded as mischievous, playing harmless and not-so-harmless pranks, preying on humans and animals, and raping women. Japanese children are told not to approach open water for fear Kappa might lure them in and then drown them.

Legend also has it that they grab their victims either to drink their blood or to tear out their liver through the anus, to remove their shirikodama (尻子玉), a mythical ball said to contain the human soul. Kappa are partial to sumo , exhibiting great skills at wrestling. Despite their mischief, they are very courteous: one way to escape from Kappa is to bow profusely to them, a gesture they would likely return, spilling out the water on their head and thereby losing their powers. They are said to serve humans who refill their plates for eternity.

Kappa Gallery:

Links:

• Edo-period kappa sketches
• Kappa 河童 and Suijin 水神 (Japanese Buddhist Statuary)
• Kappa to Shirikodama – Kappa and the Small Anus Ball