About
In a quiet corner of Kinshibori Park, Koto-bashi 4-chome, Sumida Ward, there stands a modest statue of a kappa. Its charming appearance continues to convey the legend of “Oitekebori,” which has been passed down in this area.
During the Edo period, there were many moats in this vicinity, serving as relaxing spots for anglers. One evening, as a fisherman was enjoying fishing at Kinshibori and was about to head home, a mysterious voice echoed from the moat, saying, “Oiteke, oiteke” (“Leave it, leave it”). Startled, the fisherman checked his creel, only to find that all the fish he had caught had vanished. The culprit behind this strange event was said to be either a kappa or a tanuki, and since then, the moat came to be known as “Oitekebori.”
Time passed, and in 1993, members of “Oitekebori Kappa Village,” one of the friendship organizations of the nationwide “Kappa United Republic,” erected a kappa statue in Kinshibori Park to pass down the legend to future generations. This 90-centimeter-tall statue, made of granite, carries a catfish on its back and watches over the city with its bulging eyes. Its endearing figure has become beloved by local residents and serves as a symbol of the park.
The original Kinshibori has been filled in and is now maintained as a park, but the kappa statue quietly continues to tell the history and legend of this place. Visitors to the park, amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, may pause for a moment and reflect on the days of Edo. The kappa statue brings back memories of the old waterfront scenery and the stories that once thrived there to the hearts of such people.
If you visit this place, you will be able to sense the atmosphere and the scent of legends from Edo, still alive in the modern city. The kappa statue quietly stands today as a bridge connecting the past and the present.