The Kappa goes by over 100 names and their appearance varies depending on which region of Japan you are in. The stories have been around since the Edo period, 1603 to 1867. The Kappa creature is a water demon, but it does not have horns or look like a demon we would typically picture. Imagine a teenage mutant ninja turtle the size of a child with monkey-like traits, a metal plate on its head, webbed feet, long claws, and scaly skin like a lizard.

The Kappa lives in bodies of water like lakes, swamps and rivers. Some say that the Kappa tale is something told to children to keep them from playing too close to the water. Another common myth is that the Kappa will also try to steal horses by dragging them to the water and if they are caught in the act, you can make them apologize. 

It is an excellent swimmer, making it undefeatable in the water and has magical powers depending on which legend you hear. The Kappa will eat people, drink their blood or eat their liver and other vital organs. It is said that this creature will suck the soul out of a human. Before they kill their prey the Kappa will challenge their victim to a sumo wrestling match as a contest because they love games. 

Though Kappa’s aren’t all bad, if they are captured they will teach the Japanese skills like bone setting and how to irrigate farmland. The Kappa is not all powerful either, some of the Kappa’s weaknesses include cucumbers; cucumbers are their favorite food so if you eat one or you put one by the water and write your name on it, the Kappa will not harm you when near or on the water. You can also pull the Kappa’s arms off, once you do this, they will have to do you a favor or share knowledge in order to get its arm back. 

To kill the Kappa you must bow. They are extremely polite creatures and if you bow to them, they will have to do the same, as they bow, the water in their metal plate on their head will dump out, making the plate empty. Once this happens they will be rendered helpless and will lose their powers and may even die. But, whoever returns water back into the metal plate, will have the Kappa as their servant for eternity. 

Today in Japan, there are signs with the Kappa face on it near sushi restaurants, and near bodies of water to warn others. 

Works Cited

Kahan, Kim. “The Japanese Kappa: The Mischievous Water Demon’s Mythology.” Sakuraco, May 2022, sakura.co/blog/the-japanese-kappa-mischevious-water-creature/. Accessed 29 Sept. 2023.

“Kappa the Japanese River Monster – (Japanese Folklore Explained).” YouTube, May 2018, youtu.be/cW7g3t-EKq0?si=bJFzPS_YKwWEAaAG. Accessed 29 Sept. 2023.