MONSTERS, CRYPTIDS AND SUPERNATURAL CREATURES
KAPPA
Kawataro, Komahiki, Kawatora, Suiko
Kappa are amphibious yokai demons from Japanese folklore. They are typically depicted as small, green, humanoids with a turtle-like carapace on their backs and a depression on the top of their head, known as the sara, which contains water, that, if emptied or dried out will severely weaken or even kill the kappa. They are known for inhabiting ponds and rivers, where they thrive during the warm months and are often blamed, during this period for drownings and missing people. It is said that they will to try to lure people in to the water and pull them under with their impressive wrestling skills. The reason for doing this varies from tale to tale, claiming they take their victims for the purpose of drinking their blood, eating their livers, or gaining power by taking their shirikodama, which is a mythical ball said to contain the soul, located inside the anus. Although they have a reputation for being violent, they will often enjoy being simply mischievous and love to peek up women’s kimonos or loudly pass gas in public. Kappa are not simple minded beasts, but possess an intelligence, allowing them to be one of the few yokai able to learn human languages and are also highly knowledgeable about medicine and the art of setting bones. According to legend, these skills were first taught to humans by friendly kappa.
Physiology:
Kappa are short in staure, rumoured to be the size of a human child, with a slimy, scaly skin of earthy hues, that gives off a strong odor of fish. They are amphibious creatures, described as having many characteristics akin to a turtle, such as webbed, hands and feet, a beak and a carapace on their back. One perculier feature of theirs, is a cavity on the top of their head called a "sara", which is filled with water and rumoured to be the source of their power. If emptied the Kappa will become weak or even die. They are therfore extremely protective of this area and will often cover it when veturing on to dry land.
Etylmology:
The name kappa is mix of the words kawa (river) and wappa, a variant form of warawa "child". Another translation of kappa is "water sprites". The kappa are also known regionally by at least eighty other names such as kawappa, kawako, kawatarō, gawappa, kōgo, mizushi, mizuchi, suitengu.
History:
There are mention of river deities as far back as 720 in The Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan), however, the first image of a kappa did not appear until 1713, 993 years later
Territory:
Japan
Origination:
There are more than one theories, that try to explain the origin of the kappa. One Claims they are ancient river deities, which are referenced as far back as 720 in Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan). Another describes them as the spirits of unwanted children, whom were cast in to the river by poor families, unable to care for them. There is even claim, that they are based upon Portuguese Jesuit monks, whom first appeared in Japan in 1549, drawing similarities to their strange hair styles and bald heads.
Nature:
Unpredictible. Kappa are usually seen as mischievous troublemakers, however their actions range from the comparatively minor, such as looking up women's kimonos, to being outright malevolent, such as drowning people, raping women or eating human flesh. Younglings often remain in family groups, where adults live solitary lives. However, they often befriend other yōkai and sometimes even people.
Modus Operandi:
Will target those either already in the water or those close to its edge, and attempt to lure them in. Once in the kappa's grasp they will overpower them, with their superior strength and drag them down, drowning them in order to obtain the victims Shirikodama, which is a mythical ball located at the mouth of the anus, said to contain the soul.
Vulnerability:
There are several means of escape if confronted by a kappa. Kappa are obsessed with politeness, so if you were to make a deep bow, it would return the gesture, spilling the water held in the its sara and rendering it powerless. If refilled, the kappa would serve that person for all eternity. A similar weakness of the kappa involves its arms, which can easily be pulled from its body. If detached, the kappa will perform favors or share knowledge in exchange for its return. Another method involves shogi or sumo wrestling. Kappa sometimes challenge a human to wrestle. This can be used to fool the kappa in to spilling the water from its sara. Kappa have also been driven away by their aversion to iron, sesame, or ginger and can also be bribed with their favourite food, the cucumber.