In the Edo period, a merchant named Kappaya Kihachi spent his own fortune digging a canal through waterlogged land. Moved by his spirit, the kappa of the Sumida River are said to have helped with the work. Nearby Sogenji Temple is called the "Kappa Temple."
Legend Site
Kappabashi (Kappa Kawataro)
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Positions on the map are a rough guide to the area where a legend or sighting is set. Most pins are placed at representative points of a municipality or prefecture (outside Japan, a city position rounded to about 10 km, or the country), not at the exact place.
Municipality points: Geolonia address data (CC BY 4.0), based on the Address Base Registry (Digital Agency of Japan) / Country points: Natural Earth
| Encyclopedia | Kappa |
|---|---|
| Location | Tokyo Taito City |
| Type of place | River |
| Map position | Approximate position (Municipality), not the exact place |
A water yokai said to live in rivers and ponds, with a dish of water on top of its head. Alongside frightening tales, it is known for friendlier ones, such as its love of sumo wrestling and cucumbers.
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