Kappa Folklore Yokai

Kappa dera かっぱ寺 also known as sōgen temple 曹源寺 sōgen ji is a zen buddhist temple in the kappabashi area of tokyo and is named after the kappa a japanese folklore figure.

Kappa folklore yokai. Kappa are generally the size and shape of a human child yet despite their small stature they are physically stronger than a grown man. A depression on its head called its dish retains water and if this is damaged or its liquid is lost the kappa is severely weakened. The translation of kappa is a river child of the words kawa river and wappa a variant of warawa child. They are typically depicted as green human like beings with webbed hands and feet and a turtle like carapace on their backs. In japan the creatures and strange phenomena of folklore have been known historically by a variety of terms including mononoke bakemonoand obake but most commonly today they are called yōkai a word that has become a catchall for everything spooky from creepy monster to ghostly spirit to mysterious phenomenon. Kappa 河童 kappa known also as kawatarô 川太郎 komahiki or kawako 川子 is a yôkai from the japanese mythology. The kappa are known to favor cucumbers and love to engage in sumo wrestling.

The meaning of yokai supernatural monster spirit and demon in japanese folklore. Clumsy on land they are at home in the water where they thrive during the warm months. The name is a combination of the word kawa river and wappa an inflection of warabe child. Gajiro is a demonic mascot inspired by the amphibious creature of lore. Some of them have never appeared in english before while others will be intimately familiar to fans of japanese folklore. Within these pages you ll find an ever growing collection of yokai and legends from all parts of japan and all periods of japanese history. In japanese folklore kappa 河童 is a frog like water demon that resides in riverbeds and streams all over japan.

Kappa are aquatic reptilian humanoids who inhabit the rivers and streams flowing over japan. As part of fukusaki city s efforts to attract more visitors the town has transformed itself in to a yokai demon town. The monsters and demons of japanese folklore posted in history japan no comments japanese folklore is a rich tapestry of mischievous spirits child eating monsters and shape shifting animals a little knowledge of which can give great insight into the culture when you visit. A kappa also known as kawatarō komahiki kawatora or suiko is an amphibious yōkai demon or imp found in traditional japanese folklore.