Thursday, April 12, 2012

K is for Kappa #AtoZChallenge




Origin:  Japan

Description:  The Kappa is an unpleasant water faerie. They look like a cross between a frog and turtle with webbed and clawed hands and feet, green skin and round eyes.  They have tortoiseshells on their backs. They have a slight intent on tops of their heads that hold water, their source of power.  In fact, they can’t live long outside of water.  They travel on cucumbers. 

Disposition:  They lurk at the edge of ponds and lakes waiting for a human or animal to come close enough to snack on.  You can defeat it by getting it to spill the water from its bowl-shaped head or you could just toss it a cucumber.  They like cucumbers.

16 comments:

  1. Can't. Breathe. Laughing. Too. Hard...
    For such an unpleasant beastie, this is a riot! Cucumbers? I love it!

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    1. I know. Me, too. And I wrote this three days ago.

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  2. Love the picture! I don't think I'd like to meet one...must start traveling with cucumbers! :D

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    1. I think you only have to worry about them in Japan though with immigration and migration who knows where these folks are now!

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  3. Well, it looks like I'm going to have to start packing cucumbers. Thanks for the warning.

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    1. Good idea if you find yourself near a pond in Japan.

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  4. Ah, so I need to remember to take cucumbers with me if I'm near ponds in Japan.

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  5. Love this sketch! It's one of the best ones I've seen depicting a Kappa. Didn't know about the cucumber thing. I would rather stuff my pockets with cucumbers than with lamb for the Jalpari. :)

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    1. I thought so, too. Most pics I found were to cartoony.

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  6. Ew. So very creepy. I don't think I'll be able to look at a cucumber the same ever again!

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  7. Hello, Buffy! I don't like cucumbers. Now I know, if ever I'm picnicking by a lake or pond, to keep a few just in case I run into a kappa. ;)

    Hope you're having a great week and happy A to Z!!

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