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Kappa
A water demon with a bowl on its head. The bowl holds water—its life force. Trick it into bowing, and the water spills out. The Kappa has drowned countless victims in Japanese rivers.
Ancient - Present
Japan
1000+ witnesses
The Kappa is a water demon from Japanese folklore, known for drowning victims and having a distinctive bowl-like depression on its head.
The Legend
According to documented folklore:
The Kappa:
- Lives in rivers and ponds
- Has a bowl on its head
- The bowl contains its power
- Drowns humans and livestock
- Can be tricked or befriended
Description
The Kappa appears as:
- Child-sized
- Green or blue skin
- Turtle shell on back
- Webbed hands and feet
- Water-filled depression on head
- Beak-like mouth
Behavior
Kappa are known to:
- Drown swimmers
- Pull victims underwater
- Remove shirikodama (mythical organ)
- Challenge to sumo wrestling
- Sometimes help humans
The Head Bowl
The critical weakness:
- Contains water from its home
- If spilled, the Kappa is weakened
- Trick it into bowing
- Water spills out
- The Kappa is paralyzed
Defeating a Kappa
To survive:
- Bow deeply first
- It must bow in return (polite)
- The water spills
- It becomes helpless
- It may offer favors in exchange
Cultural Impact
Kappa are:
- Used in warning signs near water
- Popular in Japanese media
- Sometimes helpful in stories
- A complex figure in folklore