Oh, the Yokai You'll Meet: Kappa
Kappa are vaguely humanoid yokai, about the size of a child. Water creatures, with scales or reptilian skin, they are usually depicted as green. They have a turtle-like beak for a mouth and sometimes a shell as well, but they are widely known for the hollow cavity at the top of their head.
Kappa live in ponds and rivers and the cavity holds water—which is the source of their power. They sometime are depicted with long hair encircling the hollow. When a kappa leaves the water, it keeps water from its home in the cavity, carrying its strength with it. If the water dries, the kappa will lose its power or maybe even die.
There are many, many tales of Kappa, telling of all sorts of behavior and painting them as creatures from benign to murderous.
Dark tales speak of Kappa drowning children and adults and attacking cattle and horses. Dragging their prey beneath the water, they feed on their victim’s blood or alternately their life force. Some say the kappa suck out their entrails, leaving nothing but a shell. Others say they pull their livers out through their anus. Kappa have been accused of raping human women and even impregnating them.
Others stories paint Kappa as tricksters who frighten humans or look up women’s skirts. They are often said to obsess over manners and polite behavior. It makes sense then, that the common instructions on escaping a Kappa tell you to bow to it. It will return the bow and the water in the bowl on its head will trickle out, leaving the Kappa frozen in place and unable to move. You can escape then, but if you refill the bowl, the kappa will reportedly be in your debt and willing to do you a service.
Cucumbers are a Kappa’s favorite food. They will sometimes befriend someone who can provide them, and exchange things for them. They are supposed to have a great knowledge of medicine and in fact reportedly taught mankind how to set broken bones. They have been known to irrigate a farmer’s land in exchange for favors. If a Kappa brings a family a gift of fresh fish, it is a mark of good fortune.
Kappa love wrestling and will sometimes accept a challenge. Some stories say that they lose their arms easily, detaching and reattaching them to their bodies. They might exchange favors for the return of a lost arm.
Mei meets a mated pair of Kappa in Eye of the Ninja. There is magic involved, and cucumbers and feats of strength, but I won’t spoil the encounter. :-) I hope you enjoy it, though!
Kappa live in ponds and rivers and the cavity holds water—which is the source of their power. They sometime are depicted with long hair encircling the hollow. When a kappa leaves the water, it keeps water from its home in the cavity, carrying its strength with it. If the water dries, the kappa will lose its power or maybe even die.
There are many, many tales of Kappa, telling of all sorts of behavior and painting them as creatures from benign to murderous.
Dark tales speak of Kappa drowning children and adults and attacking cattle and horses. Dragging their prey beneath the water, they feed on their victim’s blood or alternately their life force. Some say the kappa suck out their entrails, leaving nothing but a shell. Others say they pull their livers out through their anus. Kappa have been accused of raping human women and even impregnating them.
Others stories paint Kappa as tricksters who frighten humans or look up women’s skirts. They are often said to obsess over manners and polite behavior. It makes sense then, that the common instructions on escaping a Kappa tell you to bow to it. It will return the bow and the water in the bowl on its head will trickle out, leaving the Kappa frozen in place and unable to move. You can escape then, but if you refill the bowl, the kappa will reportedly be in your debt and willing to do you a service.
Cucumbers are a Kappa’s favorite food. They will sometimes befriend someone who can provide them, and exchange things for them. They are supposed to have a great knowledge of medicine and in fact reportedly taught mankind how to set broken bones. They have been known to irrigate a farmer’s land in exchange for favors. If a Kappa brings a family a gift of fresh fish, it is a mark of good fortune.
Kappa love wrestling and will sometimes accept a challenge. Some stories say that they lose their arms easily, detaching and reattaching them to their bodies. They might exchange favors for the return of a lost arm.
Mei meets a mated pair of Kappa in Eye of the Ninja. There is magic involved, and cucumbers and feats of strength, but I won’t spoil the encounter. :-) I hope you enjoy it, though!
