The small city of Shiki, in Saitama Prefecture, is associated with the kappa, the fearsome water imp of lore. Historically, adults have told terrifying tales of kappa to scare children into staying away from the rivers which run through the city. Statues of the mythological beast can be found in numerous spots around the town centre.
A humanoid figure with a beak, a turtle’s shell, a monk’s haircut, and a fondness for cucumbers, the kappa was said to snatch unsuspecting kids from river banks and drag them down to a watery grave. In recent years, however, the kappa has evolved into something altogether more cute, as evinced by Shiki’s official mascot, Kappy, a round, soft, big-eyed fellow, more inclined to pose for photos with children than drown them.
Even more popular than Kappy is the city’s unofficial mascot, Kapal, another lovable kappa pal. The celebrated Kapal plays bass for two rock bands, GCB47 and Charamel, and was voted Japan’s favourite mascot at the Yuruchara Grand Prix in 2018. Kapal was very much the star attraction at Shiki’s Citizens’ Festival, which took place last month for the first time since 2019. I went along and had a fantastic time. There were a few dozen mascots in attendance and below are the pictures I took of the kappa characters who came (some of whom were wearing dresses as part of a stage play they performed at the event).
