Kappa (folklore)

Kappa

A scroll showing various illustrations of kappa.
Grouping	Yokai
Other name(s)	Gatarō, Kawako
Country	Japan
Habitat	Rivers

A kappa (河童^?, lit. river child), also known as kawatarō (川太郎^?), komahiki (駒引^?, lit. horse puller), or kawako (川虎^?, lit. river tiger), is a yōkai demon or imp found in traditional Japanese folklore. 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 hyōsube (ひょうすべ^?). In Japanese Buddhism they are considered to be a kind of hungry ogres. Therefore, Sha Wujing, who is a character from the Chinese story Journey to the West is described like a kappa in Japan. Kappa are distinguished for having a small pool of water suspended on top of their head, signifying their life force and habitat.