Kappa (河童? "river-child"), alternately called Gatarō (川太郎? "river-boy") or Kawako (川子? "river-child") , are legendary creatures; a type of water sprite found in Japanese folklore. However they are also considered to be a part of cryptozoology, due to apparent sightings. In Shintoism they are considered to be one of many suijin (literally "water-deity").