Water Monsters

River waters can hide Kappa, amphibious, child-bodied creatures with a turtle beak and carapace, slender and long limbs, characterized by a sour stench and a concavity on the top of the head that they keep full of water as a reserve for when they go on land. They are annoying to men, but they love to bother girls bathing in rivers.

In Mito some Kappa got trapped in a fishing net. Among them, one failed to break free and was caught by the fishermen who started clubbing him.

Its cries were similar to those of an infant, then it farted producing a nauseating smell. He was just over a meter tall and weighed about 45 kilograms.

Kappa can drag livestock and children in the water and drown them, after which they feed on them by draining them from their sphincters

Taken from – Yōkai. Le Antiche Stampe dei Mostri Giapponesi – Published by Skira

You will find more stories, illustrations and secrets about the little, deadly Kappa in the book for sale at our bookshop)