Japan, riverside regions (classic folklore)

Kappa

Folklore — not a documented case

A tale in Japanese folklore of a turtle-like water spirit believed to live in rivers and ponds. Depicted as both mischievous and dangerous, this figure has also served in Japanese culture as an instructive tale reminding children of water safety.

Kappa, the best-known water spirit of Japanese folklore, is told with various regional variations across the country.

The stories in this section are folk tales and legends; they are not verified, real events and should not be confused with the rest of the archive.

From the same region