| Kappa | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Real Name |
Kappa, kawatarō, komahiki, kawatora, suiko |
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First Appearance |
Japanese Folklore |
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Created by |
Japanese Folklore |
Origin[]
A kappa (河童, "river-child")—also known as kawatarō (川太郎, "river-boy"), komahiki (駒引, "horse-puller"), with a boss called kawatora (川虎, "river-tiger") or suiko (水虎, "water-tiger")—is a reptiloid kami with similarities to yōkai found in traditional Japanese folklore.
Kappa can become harmful when they are not respected as gods. They are typically depicted as green, human-like beings with webbed hands and feet and turtle-like carapaces on their backs. A depression on its head, called its "dish" (sara), retains water, and if this is damaged or its liquid is lost (either through spilling or drying up), the kappa is severely weakened.
The kappa are known to favor cucumbers and love to engage in sumo wrestling. They are often accused of assaulting humans in water and removing a mythical organ called the shirikodama.
Kuzenbo, also spelled as Kusenbo and Kyusenbo, is the king of kappa in Japanese mythology. He lives in Chikugo River
Notes[]
- Lotad & its evolutions, who are originally from the video game Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire, and Golduck, originally from Pokemon Red & Green (Red & Blue internationally), are inspired by the Kappa.
- In Japan, the character Sagojō (Sha Wujing) is conventionally depicted as a kappa: he being a comrade of the Sun Wukong in the Chinese story Journey to the West.
- In the film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, the Ninja Turles are mistaken for Kappa by the people of Edo period Japan.
- The Tetranadon from the game Monster Hunter Rise is based on the Kappa.