Garappa - ガラッパ- [Yokai]

•About this Yokai.•

The Garappa or "Gawappa" are the shy island relatives of the Kappa, native to the islands of southern Kyushu. They have long beaks, larger hands and feet for swimming they are generally much taller than your average kappa: It's said their legs are so long that their knees stick high above their heads whenever they sit down!! – (I'd imagine they're a lot better at jumping too.) - It's been said that the Grappa is able to turn invisible (or can only be seen by certain people.) As such: its often identified by it's distinct chuckle of "hyo-hyo-hyo!"

Like most kappa also they love sumo wrestling: but most people that fight them will soon find themselves getting mysteriously ill soon after...

Garappa are also said to dislike the sight of human teeth: so much that they'll target and drag new born children into the river once they've started teething. (they just instinctively know, but its best not to smile around these ones.) - Garappa are also known to have a preference of targeting human women (at least a lot more than the regular smaller kappa do.) – There's one /very dark tale/ where a grappa forced itself on a women and then their child ate the pregnant mother from the inside out... (Eek!!)

However, despite their bad reputation: Grappa are also credited for teaching the people of Kyushu about medicine, (creating medical salves specifically.) helping farmers plant rice, and helping fishermen bring in substantially larger hauls. so at least some of them contribute to society?

My take: Though There aren't any tales of gendered garappa (that I could find.)  I decided to draw a girl Grappa because a while back someone asked if I had "any Femme-Kappa?" – I simply did not, so this is my answer to that haha. (plus long legs+freckles = <3) – More recently I became smitten with the kappa designs in this series of old Kizakura beer commercials. - The thin shells, remind me of soft shell turtles! - Which after a little bit of research: happen to be native to Kyushu & Okinawa!!! – So there you have it!

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!