Mauro says:

Re: Mummified Monsters in Japan
There was something akin to an industry in faked monstruosities in Asia in centuries past. The infamous Feejee Mermaid most likely orginated in Japan, as most of the other Jenny Haniver. Let’s not forget the yeti "scalps" (discovered by Bernard Heuvelmans to be made out of Serow skins), the various mummified hands etc. Pretty much like the often questionable relics found in Christian churches their main purpose was to attract faithful/sensation seekers to a particular temple, and not to lead them to salvation! 😉

In Distortion We Trust

Mauro says:

Re: Mummified Monsters in Japan
[quote=BaronIveagh]Better to deal with a fake kappa than a real one.  If I recall correctly, they can be nasty little buggers.
[/quote]

Not necessarily. According to Japanese folklore should you ever meet an hostile kappa the best course of action is to politely bow to him. The kappa will always return the bow (presuming you want to start a sumo game) and in doing so it will empt the bowl of water on top of its head. This is the source of its prodigious strength and once the kappa realizes its power is gone it will make to the nearest body of water to replenish it, giving you enough time to make yourself scarce.

In Distortion We Trust