"Little children, don't go alone to the pond," the old lady used to tell us.

"Little children, don't look into the river. Don't play too close to its edge," she used to remind us each morning, as we walked past her house on our way to school.

"Little children, be careful," she would cry. "Your parents want you alive."

Kappa,

In ancient Japanese folklore, the Kappa are water demons that inhabit rivers and lakes and devour disobedient little children.

The Kappa are one of many Japanese water deities. The name, meaning “river child,” is a combination of the words kawa (river) and wappa, a variant form of warawa (child).

Since ancient times, Kappa have been used to warn children of the dangers...

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