A vintage Japanese folk toy 河童の釣り人形 from 伊東温泉 (Itō Onsen). It captures the whimsical charm of a kappa (河童)—a mischievous water spirit from Japanese folklore—depicted here as a fisherman holding a rod and basket.
The figure is carved from natural wood, with a rounded body and a flat, hat-like head that resembles the traditional dish atop a kappa’s head, which in mythology holds water that gives them their supernatural powers.
Its face features large, expressive painted eyes and a subtle smile, lending it a cheerful, childlike personality. Dressed in a hand-painted green and black vest with Japanese characters, the figure carries a small fishing rod with a dangling yellow bucket, suspended by string for a rustic, folk-crafted effect.
The entire piece is assembled in a kokeshi-like style, blending playful fantasy with traditional craftsmanship. In Japanese folklore, kappa are legendary creatures said to live in rivers and ponds. This folk toy presents the kappa in its gentle and humorous form, commonly seen in rural children's stories and old countryside legends.
