Origin of Japan's most famous sea monster: the Kappa

The kappa is a Japanese amphibian, sea monster that lives in shallow ponds and rivers, among other water reservoirs in Japan. They are also known to reside in man-made structures such as water tanks or garden ponds. They are sometimes caught on land in the mountains in winter, when the underwater habitat freezes. They leave traces of strong body odor, thought to make people think ... rotten compost.

It is often described as looking like a monkey with fish scales instead of cilia, with five toes, webbed between the fingers, a beak like a beak and a watering hole on its head - which is considered to be its source of strength. There are also many versions that claim they also have a turtle shell on their back, a frog-like skin, can peel and possess arms and claws that can be stretched.