Japanese Yokai: Kappa

Let's dive into the world of yōkai, those fascinating supernatural beings from Japanese folklore. One of the most intriguing yōkai is the kappa, a creature that lives in rivers and ponds. But before we get into that, let's explore a bit of the history and meaning behind yōkai.

🇯🇵What Are Yōkai?

Yōkai (妖怪) are supernatural creatures, spirits, and demons found in Japanese folklore. The word "yōkai" is made up of two kanji:

妖 (yō): "bewitching" or "mysterious,"

怪 (kai): "strange" or "apparition."

So, yōkai are basically mysterious and strange beings.

🐸Meet the Kappa 河童

(image via Wikipedia)

Now, let's talk about the kappa (河童), one of the most famous yōkai

Kappa are usually depicted as green, human-like creatures with webbed hands and feet, and a turtle-like shell on their backs. They have a unique feature—a dish-like depression on their heads that holds water. This "dish" (called sara) is crucial for their power, and if the water spills out or dries up, the kappa becomes very weak.

🟢Fun Facts About Kappa

• Love for Cucumbers: Kappa love cucumbers! There are stories about people writing their names on cucumbers and tossing them into rivers to keep kappa happy and away from trouble. There's even a cucumber sushi roll named after them, called kappamaki.
• Sumo Wrestlers: Kappa enjoy sumo wrestling. They might challenge humans to a match, but beware—they're quite strong despite their small size!
• Tricksters and Troublemakers: Kappa can be pranksters and can also be dangerous, dragging people and animals into the water.

🐸Kappa in Modern Culture

Kappa are still popular today, appearing in various forms of entertainment, from anime and manga to video games and movies. A city where Kappa is seen everywhere is Shiki in Saitama. The city has even created a map where you can discover all the places where Kappa statues are😀

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫