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Kappa's Real Name: Many regional names: kawatarō, gataro, enkō, suiko
folklore
Kappa (河童) 本名: Many regional names: kawatarō, gataro, enkō, suiko (河太郎・ガタロ・猿猴・水虎)
Answer: Kappa (河童) is the best-known name for Japan's river imp, but folklore records dozens of regional names, including kawatarō (河太郎), gataro, enkō (猿猴) and suiko (水虎).
Folklore label: this entry describes legends, not real creatures.
The kappa is a water spirit said to live in rivers and ponds. It is usually described as child-sized, with a beak, a shell, and a dish-shaped hollow on its head filled with water; if the water spills, it loses its strength. Stories say it drags people and horses into the water, loves cucumbers and sumo wrestling, and keeps its promises.
Its name changes across Japan. In western Japan it was often called kawatarō or gataro; in Chūgoku and Shikoku, enkō ("monkey"); and in Kyushu, names like kawappa and hyōsube. 水虎 (suiko) is a name borrowed from Chinese records. Folklorists such as Kunio Yanagita collected these variants.
Cucumber sushi is called kappa-maki after the creature's favorite food.
FAQ
Why is cucumber sushi called kappa-maki? Because in folklore kappa love cucumbers.
What is a kappa's weakness? The water in the dish on its head; if it spills, the kappa loses its power.