Hey guys! Welcome to the next video in my Iwate series
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