Kappa no Sanpei

Sanpei is a carefree young boy who lives a quiet life deep in the mountains with his grandfather. One afternoon, while drifting down the river on a makeshift raft for a nap, he is mistaken for a kappa by a group of passing water spirits. Fearing that one of their own might be spotted by humans, they pull him beneath the surface and whisk him away to their hidden underwater kingdom. Upon arriving in this submerged realm, Sanpei’s true identity as a human is quickly uncovered, leading the kappa authorities to immediately sentence him to execution. Desperate to survive, the clever boy manages to persuade the kappa elders to spare his life. He argues that human civilization is far more advanced than theirs and promises that keeping him alive will grant them invaluable knowledge. Though intrigued, the elders remain deeply suspicious. As a guarantee of his return, the lead elder removes Sanpei’s bellybutton—the place where the kappa believe a person’s soul resides. With his soul held hostage, Sanpei is sent back to the surface world. He is not alone, however; he is escorted by a young kappa exchange student who bears an uncanny and unsettling resemblance to the boy himself.