Mythical Creatures of Japan

variations of the kappa figure. This supernatural creature is said to inhabit Japan's waters. It is usually described as having a dish full of water on top of its head, around which its bobbed hair hangs. Without this water, it loses its supernatural power. Kappa are about the size and shape of a 12- or 13-year old child, only with webbed feet and hands, and shells on their backs like turtles. They are usually friendly to children. The kappa are good swimmers, so a child who can swim well is often called a kappa. There is a proverb using kappa that goes, "kappano kawa nagare," meaning a kappa washed down the river. This means that even experts can fail from time to time.

Here are a few other minor players you might run across in Japanese legend: ryuu (dragons), kirin, houou (phoenix), baku, youkai (supernatural creatures) and ningyo (mermaids).

Ryu are mythical dragons from China that rule the sea and rain. Kirin -- from whence the Japanese beer takes its name -- were also imported from China. They started as a sort of unicorn based on an artist's rendition of a giraffe, called chi'lin in Chinese. They have since developed into a creature with the body of a deer, the hooves of a horse, the tail of an ox, the face of a wolf, and wings.

Houou are mythical phoenixes (what the heck is the plural of phoenix?) that feed on the fruit of the bamboo and drink from sacred springs. They rule the wind. Baku, which eat bad dreams, are another mythical hybrid animal most likely imported from China. They have the trunk of an elephant, eyes of a rhinoceros, tail of an ox (ox tails are power items in Asia), the legs and feet of a tiger, and a body resembling a bear. Hard to picture, isn't it?

Ningyo are your basic mermaids, which inhabit numerous tales in the island nation's lore. There are even stories of people eating mermaids and living to be 800 years old. And you thought Japanese people were weird for eating sushi!

Japanese legends also feature the youkai or mononoke, which are your basic boogiemen. They hide in shadows and like to frighten people. Human ghosts are called yuurei in Japanese, and vengeful spirits who return to this world are called onryou. Exiled or executed political or military figures were particularly feared in ancient times.

Finally, there

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