Today I am at Denshoen

and I'm here to buy a license so I can go fishing for Kappa

Kappa are a mysterious creature found in Japanese folklore

They're known to live in lakes, rivers and swampy type of areas

They're kind of a mix between a turtle and a human

Their most important feature being the dish shaped area on the top of their head

which is filled with water

This is the kappa's life source

So it's very important that they don't spill the water out of their dish

Kappa are known to be very mischevious and the like doing things like

stealing crops and pulling children into the river

The kappa stories are used as a way to convince children to stay out of the water

so that they don't get hurt

Sometimes kappa are depicted as cute creatures

So you can find kappa plushies

or cute kappa statues

But often they're also scene as very scary

as you can see in these drawings

While the kappa are famous all over Japan

Their hometown is known to be Tono in Iwate Prefecture

That's where I am today

and you can do fun things here like fishing for kappa

and you can talk to the kappa ojisan

all about kappa and learn alot from him

So that's what we're gonna do today!

Behind me here are some fishing poles with cucumbers strung to them

This is how you catch a kappa

So I'm gonna learn how to do that today

and I'm gonna get my license

and we're gonna go catch a kappa

You can buy a license with or without a cover

I decided to go with this one

So I got my license and I'm ready to go

So if I wanna be a pro kappa fisher I have to wear one of these hats

So which one are we gonna wear guys

This is like your traditional kappa, green and yellow

Whoa this one has hair

I'm leaning towards this one because it's cute

So that one didn't fit my head. It's still pink so that's ok!

We have come to the spot where we can fish for kappa

I have my kappa hat and my kappa fishing license

So I'm pretty sure I'm gonna catch one right?

We also have some cucumbers

Kappa eat cucumbers so we bought some in Tokyo and brought them with us

That it what we're gonna use to catch the kappa

Let's head down here and see if we can find the river

where they live

I'm excited

It's really beautiful

Check it out

It's a really nice temple

Oh I see a sign!

Kappa are this way

Kappa Valley - this way

It's really cold

Oh ok I see a bridge

According to this sign here the kappa

see the hat it's filled with water

There was a fire at this temple

and the kappa used that water from their hat to put out the fire

So everyone loves them

So apparently there are some kappa in this river here

I hear some voices down here

let's see if we can find someone who can help us out

I see someone fishing

Hello!

Oh hello!

What are you doing?

Fishing for kappa

Oh kappa!

Is that a cucumber?

Yes a nice fresh cucumber

Kappa eat cucumbers?

They love them!

This is a nice fresh one so...

Where are you from?

Canada

Oh Canada is really far away

Do you have a license?

Yes I went and got one

teach me how to catch one please!

You're ready to fish

I'll try my best

This pole is for pros only

So I can't lend it to you

But I'll get you one from over there

Thank you!

Be careful of the kappa

They like pretty boys and girls

It says: Be careful because the kappa attack beautiful boys and girls

If you need to just throw your rod into the river

Oh okay, got it!

Okay I'm gonna catch some kappa now

I've got my cucumber

3 hours passed...

How come we didn't find any kappa today?

Today's a little too cold

Oh they don't like the cold?

The kappa's water dish freezes

when it's too cold out

Oh the water on top of their heads?

That water is their life source

If that freezes their life is in danger

So they don't come out when it's cold

So february isn't the best time...

It was warmer early on but...

But when it gets cold all of a sudden

you don't see them much

If you come when it's warmer

I'll come again in the summer

You might see lots then

We asked him if anyone has ever caught a kappa here before

and he says he's not allowed to tell us, it's a secret

and we have to keep trying and seeing if we can get one for ourselves

If we do manage to catch a bunch we're allowed to bring one home with us

Only one because they're a popular tourist attraction here

So we can't take them all home

Today was a little too cold and the kappa didn't wanna come out

so we didn't catch any

Maybe in the summer I will come back and I will get one

So look forward to that