Many people have drawn comparisons between Kappa and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which has become something of an inside joke in the fandom. They are sometimes drawn with beak like mouths and usually have a tortoiseshell on their back. More on that later.ĭescribed as being the size of a 10 year old child, Kappas are kind of a monkey like creature with fish scales.

If the water spills out, they risk losing their powers, or even their life. They have a hole at the top of their head filled with water. Kappa are among some of the strangest legendary creatures in terms of looks. Which would only make sense, because Kappas are water dwelling creatures. Kappa is the same plural and single, like “fish.” Kappa does not refer to one monster but rather a group of monsters. The stories you hear about Yōkai will likely leave you wondering how you feel about them overall, and that can be a really interesting contrast for visual artists to play with. The Yōkai straddle a line between silly and scary, evil and honorable. Kappa is a more prominent member of the Yōkai group, but there are other cheeky characters like Tofu Boy– a young shy boy who wanders the streets of Japan offering people a (secretly poisoned) cube of tofu. Yōkai are an interesting group, and many people get tattoos of these fascinating creatures. The direct translation from the Kanji for the word “Yōkai” is in two parts, and those parts are a mix of attraction, suspicion, and the supernatural. The Yōkai are a group of cheeky demons in Japanese Mythology and Folklore. The Kappa is a popular creature in the Japanese tattoo world, likely because of its bizarre appearance and back story. But Kappa Maki isn’t named for its ingredients, but rather the kind of creature who enjoys those yummy ingredients. If you aren’t of Japanese descent, you probably either didn’t think what the name could mean, or assumed “Kappa” meant “cucumber.”Ī Kappa Maki Roll is a simple cucumber roll after all. Have you ever ordered a Kappa Maki Roll at your favourite sushi restaurant?

Kappa alpha psi tattoo