![Japan: A 'kawataro' water imp. From the Kaikidan Ekotoba Monster Scroll, mid-19th century. The kawataro is a variety of kappa or water imp which likes to eat people and to practice sumo. Japan: A 'kawataro' water imp. From the Kaikidan Ekotoba Monster Scroll, mid-19th century. The kawataro is a variety of kappa or water imp which likes to eat people and to practice sumo.](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2B01820/japan-a-kawataro-water-imp-from-the-kaikidan-ekotoba-monster-scroll-mid-19th-century-the-kawataro-is-a-variety-of-kappa-or-water-imp-which-likes-to-eat-people-and-to-practice-sumo-an-indentation-on-top-of-the-creatures-head-is-filled-with-water-the-kawataro-becomes-weak-when-the-water-spills-out-the-kaikidan-ekotoba-is-a-mid-19th-century-handscroll-that-profiles-33-legendary-monsters-and-human-oddities-mostly-from-the-kyushu-region-of-japan-but-with-several-from-other-countries-including-china-russia-and-korea-2B01820.jpg)
Japan: A 'kawataro' water imp. From the Kaikidan Ekotoba Monster Scroll, mid-19th century. The kawataro is a variety of kappa or water imp which likes to eat people and to practice sumo.
![Kappa Girl Yokai Lake Spirit Japanese Art by TeaFoxIllustrations, $6.00 | Japanese art, Fox illustration, Japanese folklore Kappa Girl Yokai Lake Spirit Japanese Art by TeaFoxIllustrations, $6.00 | Japanese art, Fox illustration, Japanese folklore](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6c/37/0a/6c370a7f6ce1ac493f65357458d7fffc.jpg)
Kappa Girl Yokai Lake Spirit Japanese Art by TeaFoxIllustrations, $6.00 | Japanese art, Fox illustration, Japanese folklore
![A Kappa ('river-child'), alternatively called kawataro ('river-boy'), is a yokai found in Japanese folklore. The name is a combination of the word kawa (river) and wappa, an inflection of warabe (child). In A Kappa ('river-child'), alternatively called kawataro ('river-boy'), is a yokai found in Japanese folklore. The name is a combination of the word kawa (river) and wappa, an inflection of warabe (child). In](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2B02WY8/a-kappa-river-child-alternatively-called-kawataro-river-boy-is-a-yokai-found-in-japanese-folklore-the-name-is-a-combination-of-the-word-kawa-river-and-wappa-an-inflection-of-warabe-child-in-shint-they-are-considered-to-be-one-of-many-suijin-water-deities-a-hairy-kappa-is-called-a-hysubethere-are-more-than-eighty-other-names-associated-with-the-kappa-in-different-regions-along-with-the-oni-and-the-tengu-the-kappa-is-among-the-best-known-yokai-in-japan-2B02WY8.jpg)