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Friday, April 12, 2013

A-Z Blog Hop: Kappa

Hokusai, detail of a bestiary drawing showing a kappa



In the depths of Japan’s bodies of water lives an imp known at the kappa. It looks like a monkey with a beak that is the size of child with webbed hands and feet. On its back is a tortoise shell and it has a protrusion that hold a jelly substance that is the source of its power.

Portrait of one of the kappa in front of JR Tono Station in Iwate Prefecture, Japan by Iwatebud

The kappa enjoys luring people into deep treacherous waters so they drown. Then the imp enters the boding and devours its blood and organs. It especially likes the liver. Some stories tell of the kappa losing its arm. It will promise people favors, such as not attacking local villagers or teaching someone to heal, in exchange for its arm back.

Do you like stories about angels, demons, and the supernatural? Pick up a copy of "A Prescription for Delirium" available on AmazonBarnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

10 comments:

  1. Kappas! Yet another creature I really enjoy from folklore. :) I remember seeing them featured in an episode of the cartoon Arthur once... (I should not know this, but I do. HAH.)

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    1. I watched a few episodes of Arthur. I wish I'd seen the one you were talking about.

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  2. Never heard of kappas before. the first picture looks quite sweet, but the second... Scary!
    Short Story Ideas &
    Just Ermie

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  3. The drawing is lovely, but it's so deceiving considering your description of what the Kappas do. Scary creatures.

    Visting from the A to Z, glad I did.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I think part of the deciving is to lure people in.

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