The Kesa-Monk of IgusaFolkloric Record Edition

The Kesa-bō of Igusa is told as a kappa belonging to the local waters, marked by a monkly appearance symbolized by a priest’s kesa stole. Its pranks cause real harm, such as obstructing passage or adding weight, and at times tie into sacrificial notions surrounding the intestines. The listing of neighboring kappa names typifies kappa groups distributed along each water system, accompanied by ideas of mutual visits and marriage ties. The setting centers on the channels near Ochiai Bridge, where nighttime travel was shunned. Later records sometimes confuse it with examples from Miyagi Prefecture, but locally the tradition is firmly fixed under the name Igusa.

Yokai with similar personality and characteristics to Folkloric Record Edition

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Compatibility

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Tradition-Concordant Version

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Yokai with opposite personality and characteristics to Folkloric Record Edition

Kannon

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