SAGA (ANN/THE JAPAN NEWS) – Saga City in Japan witnessed the return of a historic wooden carving depicting a kappa, a mythical creature from Japanese folklore renowned for safeguarding against water accidents.
The statue, standing approximately 68 centimetres tall and believed to date back to the Edo period (1603-1867), has been reinstated on the gate at Matsubara Shrine after a hiatus of about half a century.
According to local legend, the kappa’s origins intertwine with a tale from centuries past. Allegedly, a local official enchanted numerous dolls to aid in a construction endeavour.
Upon completion, these dolls reverted to their original form and were discarded into a river, where they transformed into malevolent kappa that threatened children’s lives by dragging them into the water.
In response to the crisis, the lord of the Saga domain intervened and captured the kappa leader. Pleading for redemption, the kappa offered to protect children if transformed into a wooden doll.
Accepting this plea, the lord crafted a wooden statue of the kappa, placing it atop the gate at Matsubara Shrine, which has stood for over 250 years.
However, due to multiple thefts of cultural artefacts several decades ago, including the kappa statue, it was relocated indoors for safekeeping. Recently, the shrine decided to restore the statue to its original position on the gate.
The community hoped that its return will not only safeguard against floods but also continue to protect children, as tradition holds that passing under the gate ensures safety from water accidents for a month.
