fables

“ Then the kappa were banished and the sumo school was shut down. „
― Rapunzel, Fairest #9 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter Two: Hard-Boiled Wonderland"


The kappa is a species that lives in hiding in Tokyo, Japan. It debuts in Fairest #8 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter One: Big in Japan."

Physiology

The kappa have scaly, light green skin, yellow eyes, black hair, clawed fingers and a turtle-like beak;[1] Tomoko refers to the kappa Katagiri to a "decrepit turtle" at one point.[2] They have a dish-like depression on top of their skull that is filled with water, and are severely weakened if the liquid is spilled; however, as long as their spirit is still attached, they can be brought back by refilling the water. Katagiri, a notable kappa, is known to adopt a human form; however, the distinctive depression on his head is still present.[1] Kappa are sturdier than humans; they can survive decapitation if their severed head is reattached to their body.[3]

History

The kappa were from the Hidden Kingdom, the Homelands version of Japan, but were banished from the local Emperor's court as part of the Shogun's plan for laying the way for the Adversary to invade. The Shogun, Ryogan, claimed that they were "a terrible influence" and "violent monsters." In addition, the sumo school at the court, where at least one of them, Katagiri, worked as a sumo teacher, was shut down.[1]

After the Adversary invaded, they joined a group of refugees lead by the kitsune Tomoko. The group eventually settled in a hidden Fable community in Tokyo, Japan.[3]

Appearances

Fairest

Original source

The are based on the kappa ("river child"),[4] a lecherous creature reminiscent of a vampire, derived from Japanese folklore. It is considered to possess greater intelligence than the devilish oni, yet it is less harmful to humans. The art of bonesetting is attributed to kappa, who are said to have instructed humans in this skill. In legend and artistic representations, they are illustrated as being comparable in size to a ten-year-old child, exhibiting a yellow-green hue, and resembling monkeys, yet possessing fish scales or tortoise shells in place of skin. Their heads feature hollow depressions filled with water; it is believed that if this water is spilled, they will forfeit their supernatural abilities. Tales of encounters with kappa consistently mention their ability to honor a promise, which can be elicited by compelling them to lower their heads or by deceiving them into bowing, causing the water within them to spill. Kappa are known to have a fondness for cucumbers, and a common method to appease them is by tossing a cucumber into their aquatic habitat.[5] Kappa love practicing martial arts, notably sumo wrestling,[4] which is is evident in Katagiri's profession as a sumo teacher.[1][3] Although it is never stated directly in the comic, kappa are a form of yōkai.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Fairest #9 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter Two: Hard-Boiled Wonderland"
  2. ↑ Fairest #13 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter Six: The Hundred Demons Night Parade"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Fairest #12 — "The Hidden Kingdom Chapter Five: Battle Royale"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Kappa, Yokai.com. "Translation: river child (…) However, it is common for kappa to befriend other yōkai and sometimes even people. Possessed of a keen intelligence, kappa are one of the few yōkai able to learn human languages. They are highly knowledgeable about medicine and the art of setting bones. According to legend, friendly kappa taught these skills to humans. For fun, they love causing mischief, practicing martial arts like sumo wrestling, and playing games of skill like shogi."
  5. ↑ Kappa, January 25, 2025, Encylopædia Britannica. "kappa, in Japanese folklore, a type of vampirelike lecherous creature that is more intelligent than the devilish oni (q.v.) and less malevolent toward men. Kappa are credited with having taught the art of bonesetting to humans. They are depicted in legend and art as being the size of a 10-year-old child, yellow-green in colour, and resembling monkeys, but with fish scales or tortoise shells instead of skin. On the top of their head they have hollow indentations that are filled with water; if the water is spilled, they are said to lose their supernatural powers. Legends of encounters with kappa invariably include a reference to their capacity for keeping a promise, extracted from them after forcing their heads down or by tricking them into bowing low, thus spilling out the water. They have a taste for cucumbers, and a standard way of placating kappa is to throw a cucumber into the water where they live.