Kappa

Kappa Alternate names None Species Amphibious Deity Height 2 meters Length None Weight ?? kg Forms Death KappaDK Controlled by None Relations None Allies Other List of Kadokawa yokai# Enemies Daimon, HangyolasDK Created by Japanese Legends Played by Unknown First appearance Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare Latest appearance Death Kappa Design(s) Showa: ShodaiKappa Millennium: ShodaiDesuKappa Roar(s) To be added.

The Kappa (河童,   Kappa) are a race of famous amphibious List of Kadokawa yokai# from Japanese legend that made appearances in the 1968 Daiei film, Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare, the 1974 Toho series, Go! Ushiwaka Koujirou, the 2006 Kadokawa film, Great Yokai War, and the 2010 Nikkatsu film, Death Kappa. Kappa are among the most well-known Yokai outside of Japan, and have appeared in countless pieces of media as a result.

Appearances

In both of its appearances, the Kappa's appearance is identical to typical depictions of its kind in media. The Kappa is a small, reptilian creature with a pool of water on its head, and 'leaves' running around the rim of its pool. The Kappa also has a beak, which gives it a vaguely avian appearance as well.

History

Showa Series

Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters

While the Kappa himself didn't appear in the first of the Yokai saga films, there is mention of the mischievous water imps.

Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare

Kappa in Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare

In this film, the Kappa and his kind have one of the most important roles in the whole film, and is one of the protagonists. He was the first yokai to challenge Daimon, getting his head dish severely burned while doing so. The Kappa then went to the other yokai for help, and though the others seemed to feel that he was suspicious at first, he rallied the troops. He was thought to be killed in the large assault on Daimon when his head dish caught fire, with Daimon setting fire to the pond he dove into to try and extinguish the flames. It was later revealed he was perfectly fine and simply hid below the water. Besides him, there were many Kappa that were in the spirit army that fought against Daimon and his illusions, using their water powers to douse Daimon's fire.

Yokai Monsters: Along With Ghost

Much like 100 Monsters, the Kappa isn't seen, but is mentioned. It is possible there are Kappa in the massive crowd scenes of Yokai spying on two bandits.

Go! Ushiwaka Koujirou

A Kappa appears in Go! Ushiwaka Koujirou as an enemy monster and ally of Konjo.

Millennium Series

Great Yokai War

Kappa in Great Yokai War

Much like he did in the Showa series, the Kappa played a major part in the Great Yokai war of 2006. He was one of the first yokai to respond to the call when the youkai found out that their species were being turned into mindless machines. Unlike the Showa Kappa, this Kappa had no powers besides reverting back to his normal size when being crushed by a boulder.

Death Kappa

Kappa in Death Kappa

In this film, the Kappa is looked after by a woman, but the Kappa is wanted by a band of criminals and mutant fish men. They threaten to use a bomb to destroy all of Japan, and eventually do set it off. However, one of the fish men is caught in the explosion and is mutated into the monster Hangyolas. Fortunately, the Kappa was also mutated into Death Kappa and was able to subdue the rampaging titan. After its fight with Hangyolas, it was soothed by its childhood friend who sang it a song and poured water on its dish. The Kappa, losing its red eyes, slowly disappeared into the ocean.

Abilities

• Kappa can headbutt his opponents.
• Kappa is able to shoot a water beam.
• When mutated, the Kappa can breath blue atomic breath similar to that of Godzilla.
• When mutated the Kappa can use a variety of physical attacks, e.g. flipping Hangolas, much like the legend of Kappas being professional sumo wrestlers.
• The Kappa from Spook Warfare could see the inner spirits of people, and was able to identify Daimon hidden inside a person he possessed.
• The Kappa from Spook warfare frequently teleported while trying to assault Daimon.

Trivia

• The Kappa from Spook Warfare and the one from Great Yokai War are implied to be the same Kappa.
• The Kappa in Great Yokai War apparently knows of the Yokai based series, Gegege no Kitaro and berates people for not enjoying it.
• The Kappa, much like Gamera can be seen as a protector of children. It wasn't until Daimon began to feed on the blood of children did he try to rally the other Yokai, and forty years later, he became friends with a boy who could see Yokai naturally.