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Kappa

3.8(3)
Paperback€14.00
Language
English
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About the book

The Kappa is a creature from Japanese folklore known for dragging unwary toddlers to their deaths in rivers: a scaly, child-sized creature, looking something like a frog, but with a sharp, pointed beak and an oval-shaped saucer on top of its head, which hardens with age.Akutagawa's Kappa is narrated by Patient No. 23, a madman in a lunatic asylum: he recounts how, while out hiking in Kamikochi, he spots a Kappa. He decides to chase it and, like Alice pursuing the White Rabbit, he tumbles down a hole, out of the human world and into the realm of the Kappas. There he is well looked after, in fact almost made a pet of: as a human, he is a novelty. He makes friends and spends his time learning about their world, exploring the seemingly ridiculous ways of the Kappa, but noting many-not always flattering-parallels to Japanese mores regarding morality, legal justice, economics, and sex. Alas, when the patient eventually returns to the human world, he becomes disgusted by humanity and, like Gulliver missing the Houyhnhnms, he begins to pine for his old friends the Kappas, rather as if he has been forced to take leave of Toad of Toad Hall...

Editions (3)

ISBN9780811232166
PublisherNew Directions Publishing Corporation
Publication Date06/06/23
Pages96

Reviews & Ratings

3 ratings

2 reviews

3.8

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  • jam
    jam

    42 Followers

    4.5

    Spezielle geschichte - aber einnehmend geschrieben

    Wir begleiten einen jungen Mann, der in Tokyo lebt, und eines Tages einem "Kappa" begegnet, und diesem dann unbeabsichtigt nach Kappaland folgt. Dort lernt er die Kultur der Kappa kennen, und einiges über die Menschen auf der Erde. Ein sehr spezieller Text, der skuril aber gleichzeitig sehr einnehmend wirkt. Diese Version hat eine über 50 Seiten lange "Einführung" in den Autoren und das Werk, welche auch sehr interessant war. Ich empfehle aber, sie nach der Geschichte zu lesen. Da dort viel über die Bedeutung des Textes geschrieben wurde, hat es mir die Lektüre entsprechend vorgeprägt. Dennoch ein sehr gutes Buch!

    Jun 11, 2026

  • lottisbooknook
    lottisbooknook

    6 Followers

    4.0

    Without my noticing, Rapp was now standing in the middle of the street: his feet were splayed wide, he was bent over, and he was peering between his legs at the steady stream of traffic and passersby. As I pulled Rapp upright, I was wondered with astonishment if this Kappa too had gone mad. „That isn’t funny. What are you doing?“ Rapp simply rubbed his eyes, responding with unexpected composure: „Well, since I‘d been feeling so depressed, I thought I‘d try looking at the world upside down. But it turns out, it’s exactly the same.“

    Aug 29, 2025

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