legend
Every Japanese person knows about kappa, the tricksy and sometimes dangerous, yet strangely polite, water demons from ancient folklore. But how many have actually seen one in real life?
Next month, people will have the chance to, when parts of a supposedly real kappa go on display in all their mummified glory.
More than likely, you’ve heard of the legend of the ninja, the stealthy hired hands and spies for regional warlords in feudal Japan. But considering how popular ninjas are in the modern world, from video games to ninja-themed American bars, it can be pretty hard to separate historical fact from fiction. And today we have three stories for you about this secretive bunch that may help to give a little more light to the mythos surrounding ninja and the truth behind some of these larger-than-life tales. Click below to read three anecdotes (of varying veracity) about what made ninjas into the legend they are today!
State media in North Korea, notorious for its far-fetched claims like the late Kim Jong Il’s near-impossible golf scores and how the earth around his birthplace cracked at the moment of his death, is reported to have told its public last week that the lair of a mythical unicorn-like creature had been discovered by archaeologists.
Cue the sound of crayons being dropped the world over and dewy-eyed children turning to their parents and yelling “See!? They are real!”
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Step back in time to the Edo period at this unusual highway rest stop in Japan
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
Kagoshima conveyor belt sushi chain Mekkemon rises above the rest with its special secret weapon
We dare Tokyo’s pigeons to crap on us because we think it’ll make us rich【Experiment】
Japan’s first hotel with a human washing machine is now ready for you to come and bathe in it
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
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The ancient Japanese textile craft made with jagged fingernails
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
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Japanese convenience store chain has beer and sake dispensers that few people know about
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