Kappa – The Water Spirit Monster
In Japanese folklore, the Kappa is by far the best known. A Kappa is a green hideous water-sprite monster which resembles a manlike goblin, yet it is a scaly, hairless ape like creature with the head of a monkey, the body of a tortoise, and the webbed legs of a frog. It is about the size of a ten-year old kid and is believed to be the descendent of a monkey messenger of the River God.
Kappas are bald on the top of their heads but have long hair flowing down along the sides. The bald spot on the top of the kappa’s head is actually a deep saucer-shaped indented bowl which holds water. The water in its bowl-like head gives strength and sustains life for the kappa, so it must keep some amount of water in it at all times. They cannot live on the land for too long, as they must always keep their heads wet. Should the water be spilled, they immediately lose their powers.
Kappas inhabit rivers and prey on children who swim in their waters. They pull little children into the water and drown them. This is achieved by hugging a victim, effectively keeping him under water so he could drown. They enter their victim through the anus, devour him, drawing forth his intestines and liver. Kappas have also been known to attack travellers and animals, including horses tethered by the river bank This is done so as to reinforce the idea that the river and its surrounding territories belong to the kappa and intruders will be dealt with severely, usually with death.
The Kappas feed themselves with cucumbers and blood, and use cucumbers to travel on them. These cucumbers fly like dragonflies.
There are only two ways to escape from the clutches of the Kappa.
One way to deter a Kappa would be to bow to it, and it would be obliged to bow back, thus letting the water drip from the depression in its head. It would then have to return to the waters to refill it. Another way would be to throw a cucumber with one’s name inscribed on it, and the Kappas, who are very fond of cucumbers, would not bring harm to that person.
Monstrous as they are, Kappas are very intelligent and can be propitiated by humans. They can be befriended by wise men to whom they will teach the art of selling bones.
Interestingly, there are many Japanese terminologies that are associated with the Kappa. For example, there is a Japanese saying ‘Kappa mo kawa nagare’. Literally, it means that even a “Kappa” can get carried away by the river. The modern translation is that anyone can make mistakes.
Also, in Japan, you can find the kappa maki. This is a variety of sushi and its ingredients are seaweed, cucumbers, rice, salt, sugar and rice wine vinegar. To eat it, you only need to put some soy sauce on it. It is so called the kappa maki because the colour and texture of the cucumber resembles that of the kappa, not forgetting that cucumbers are the kappa’s favourite food. And believe it or not, in Vancouver’s reputedly best Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant also goes by the name of Kappa.
‘Kappa’ also means raincoat in Japan. And do you know that the Kappa haircut has also been quite popular with Japanese females. To add further, there is also a kitchen ware town in Asakusa, Tokyo called “Kappa-Bashi” in Japanese. Its original name, however, is Kappabashi Shopping Centre.
