Kashambo - カシャンボ - [Yokai]

•About this yokai•

Kashambo -カシャンボ - “Traveling water imp.”- Are a funny looking sort of Kappa cousin from Wakayama Prefecture that are said to travel around from mountain to mountain, they have “an oversized head shaped like a poppy bud” with hair tuft or a cap at the top. like a dried poppy bud: its also said that its head makes a rattling sound as it moves around. (as if something is loose inside..)

Generally they are depicted wearing a blue travellers kimono and are no bigger than a 6 or 7 year old child: But, apparently most of the time they are invisible. (only dogs & horses can see them.) They are also said to have feet like a waterfoul, leaving duck like webbed footprints wherever they go, sometimes hopping around on just one foot!!

They seem to be the wakayama/mie local ‘inbetween’ stage for migoratory kappa/yamawaro - To quote the obakemono project: “During the summer months kappa are called gōrai or gorambo and live in rivers, but in the autumn they begin climbing into the mountains for the winter and become kashambo.” 

Like the yamawaro it is also said to cause auditory effects such as trees being chopped down and construction work. - in some areas, the legends of the Ippon-Datara are mixed in with Kashabo’s story. - Shigeru Mizuki decided to classify it as a type of kappa and I’d have to agree.

I decided to make mine a bit more "ripe" green because it makes it look a bit more kappa like...illustrations of this one are rare but its either exactly like mizukis (or like a normal kappa.) Regardless of whatever they're actually supposed to be related they're usually invisible so it’s fine to use your imagination.

The name "kashambo" is actually derived from local dialect: "kashagu", meaning "to tickle." – In other words, its very mischievous and a prankster. – Some of its well known pranks include Spiriting away farm horses, spitting on cows (making them sick.) and throwing rocks at your windows to ring in the changing of seasons & new years day!! --Delightful!!

In 2004: Tomita, Shirahama town Wakayama Prefecture, some odd foot prints where found in and around a rice field, however: they where webbed but didn't match with any local animal or birds - So, Local papers reported them as Kashambos.

Sticker Art by @Samkalensky (yo thats me!) - Part of my Night parade of 100 Demons - Yokai & Japanese folklore sticker collection, weather resistant 4" Glossy sticker. Check my shop & follow @samkalensky for many more!