Gangikozō
Gangikozō is a yokai from Japanese folklore, known as a riverbank-dwelling water spirit that belongs to the broader kappa family of aquatic creatures. Its name combines 'gangi' (riverbank or stepped pier) and 'kozō' (young boy or priest), suggesting its youthful appearance and riverside habitat. According to folklorists, Gangikozō may represent a transitional form of kappa, existing between the fully aquatic water spirit and a hairy mountain spirit. This yokai was first catalogued by the famous Edo-period artist Toriyama Sekien in his supernatural bestiary, though local legends of similar crea