Shirikodama – [yokai|kappa] – “butt balls”

Description

Shirikodama. – [Yokai|Kappa] – 尻子玉/尻小玉 – “Butt jewel/Butt ball.”

• About: A mysterious mythical organ, located behind the liver near the anus, said to be a kappas favourite snack! (Sometimes said to sit inside of the intestines, other-times said to be just in front of the liver.) either way its often said to contain a humans ‘soul.’ its said that if removed you will become stupefied, sluggish and utterly demotivated, you might even die. Other stories take it even further…*

[河童尻子玉, 1798]

This “ButtJewel” in the few early times its depicted, somewhat resembled a Buddhist HojuNoTama, (or a Cintamani wishing jewel.) (cant help but wonder if this was political commentary once upon a time…)

[Hoju no tama are often depicted as loot brought aboard the Takarabune by the Shichifukujin! (for more about those, See also: Takaramono.)]

Next to cucumbers; Shirikodama are said to be a Kappas favourite snack, sometimes its said that kappa are collecting them as gifts to their higher ups (such as suiko.) or as tribute to Ryujin the Dragon king. (Why he would want these is beyond me; but perhaps it could have to do with a misunderstanding of the old folkstory; “the tale of the monkeys liver?” where in the dragon king asks his men to retrieve a monkeys liver as medicine for his ill daughter? Perhaps some broken telephone happened and the kappa got confused? Hah, i digress, thats just my theory.) despite enjoying the taste of the ball, kappa seem to hate the butt stink! (understandable.)

Today, kappa frequently appear on ‘water danger’ or ‘no swimming’ signs and It is often said (metaphorically) that drowning victims where victims of a kappa attack. This is because the origin of this Shirikodama seems to come from drowning victims water-logged, prolapsed anuses (never a pretty sight; it appears distended, opened or as if something had been removed.)

[a Kappa no swimming sign]

There are more than a few Edo period prints depicting kappa attacks, as well as hunting & prevention methods; I’ve collected a bunch below.

[an ‘Enko’ attack! 絵本集艸, 1660’s]

[Bakemonno chakutōcho, 夭怪着到牒, 1788] – *According to the accompanying text; “the kappa drags humans into water and devours their innards, the victims are unable to ascend to heaven, becoming wandering ghosts that cannibalize each other.” (shigeru mizuki also famously re-drew this one for his own explanation of kappa attacks.)

[河童尻子玉, 1798] – a kappa holds a shiriko dama away from its face, seemingly grossed out with the smell (i drew mine based on this one!)

[北斎漫画 Hokusai Manga, 1840] a man uses his butt as kappa bait.

[安達吟光. 1886] – another print showing a kappa trap using their butt as bait. multiploe kappa are waiting

[Demon hunter Zhongki (Shoki) uses the same trap and a demon as bait to try and catch a kappa (Ota memorial museum)]

[ Kappa no he (屁の河童) Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831–1889), a kappas fart sending people flying miles into the stratosphere! – English translators often say that the expression “he no kappa” means something close to “Piece of cake”, indeed …but “Easy Breezy” is right there guys…]

[Yoshitoshi, 1881, 東京開化狂画名所 “Comic Pictures of Famous Places in the Early Days of Tokyo, Kappa Control method.] – despite being able to dish it I suppose they cant take it. kappa are repelled by butt-stank!

[Art sticker by @Samkalensky (yo thats me!) part of my kappa collection follow and support for many more!!]