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Kappa (folklore)
A , alternatively called , , or , is a yōkai found in Japanese folklore.〔Foster, M. D. (1998). "The Metamorphosis of the ''Kappa'': Transformation of Folklore to Folklorism in Japan". ''Asian Folklore Studies'', 57:1, 1-24.〕 The name is a combination of the words ''kawa'' (river) and ''wappa'', a variant form of 童 ''warawa'' (also ''warabe'') "child." In Shintō they are considered to be one of many ''suijin'' (水神,“water deity”), their ''yorishiro'', or one of their temporary appearances. A hairy ''kappa'' is called a . There are more than eighty other names associated with the ''kappa'' in different regions, including ''kawappa'', ''gawappa'', ''kōgo'', ''mizushi'', ''mizuchi'', ''enkō'', ''kawaso'', ''suitengu'', and ''dangame''.〔 Along with the ''oni'' and the ''tengu'', the ''kappa'' is among the best-known ''yōkai'' in Japan.
''Kappa'' have been used to warn children of the dangers lurking in rivers and lakes.
It has been suggested that the ''kappa'' legends are based on the Japanese giant salamander or ''hanzaki'', an aggressive salamander that grabs its prey with its powerful jaws.〔''River Monsters'', series 3, episode 6, directed by Duncan Chard, ITV 1 (UK) 14 February 2012.〕
==Appearance==
The ''kappa'' is typically depicted as roughly humanoid in form and about the size of a child. Its scaly reptilian skin ranges in color from green to yellow or blue. ''Kappa'' supposedly inhabit the ponds and rivers of Japan, and have various features to aid them in this environment, such as webbed hands and feet. They are sometimes said to smell like fish and they can swim like them. The expression ''kappa no kawa nagare'' ("a ''kappa'' drowning in a river") conveys the idea that even experts make mistakes. Although their appearance varies from region to region, the most consistent features are a beak, a shell, and a plate (''sara''), a flat hairless region on the top of the head that is always wet, and is regarded as the source of the ''kappas power. This cavity must be full whenever a ''kappa'' is away from the water; if it ever dries out, the ''kappa'' loses its power and may even die.〔〔〔 Another notable feature in some stories is that the arms are said to be connected to each other through the torso and can slide from one side to the other.〔 While they are primarily water creatures, they do on occasion venture on to land. When they do, the plate can be covered with a metal cap for protection. In fact, in some versions of the legends, ''kappa'' spend spring and summer in the water, and the rest of the year in the mountains as ''Yama-no-Kami'' (山の神, “mountain gods”).〔 Although they are reported to live throughout Japan, they are often said to be particular to Saga Prefecture.〔''Metropolis'', "Fortean Japan", 27 June 2008, p. 12.〕
抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』
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