kappa 河童

Kappa is a a green frog-like mythical creature from the Japanese mythology that lives in lakes, rivers and swamps. They have webbed fingers and toes and a plate-like dent on their heads, which must contain a certain liquid to prevent them from losing their magical powers. Although they are rather hostile to humans, sometimes dragging one or the other into the water and drowning them, they are revered by parts of the rural population as guardian spirits and appeased with a cucumber, their favourite food. These days, the media also make use of the trivialised kappa form as an advertising and sympathy vehicle.