Perfect Memento in Strict Sense/Kappa

Page 97-98

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水の職人妖怪	The Artisan Youkai of the Water
河童	Kappa
主な危険度：　中	Usual threat level: Average
遭遇頻度：　低	Frequency of encounters: Low
多様性：　低	Variety: Low
主な遭遇場所：　妖怪の山	Places likely to be encountered: Youkai Mountain
主な遭遇時間：　いつでも	Times likely to be encountered: Anytime
特徴	Characteristics
妖怪の山に棲む河の妖怪である。	These are youkai who dwell in the river near Youkai Mountain.
手先が器用で高度な技術を持ち、様々な道具を生み出す妖怪である。	They are technologically-gifted youkai that produce various tools with skillful hands.
天狗と共に独自の社会を築き、高度な生活を送っているという。	Similar to the tengu, they have built their own society, more advanced than us humans.
姿は人型だが、鼈の甲羅を背負い、頭に皿を載せている。	Their appearance is human, but they have turtle shells covering their backs, and plates covering their heads.
泳ぎを得意とし、水の中では魚より早く動けるが、地上では人間の身体能力と大差無い。	Swimming is their forte, and in the water they can move faster than a fish, but on dry land there is no major difference in abilities compared to a human's.
比較的戦闘能力も低く、滅多に人前に姿を現わさない。	Their fighting skills are also comparatively low, so they seldom show themselves to humans.
さらに人間に見つかると逃げてしまう為、生態は謎に包まれている。	Furthermore, since they run away when they notice humans, their way of life is shrouded in mystery.
目撃するとすれば、たまに河を流れてくる間抜けな河童だけである。	When they are spotted, it is just the occasional foolish kappa that has been washed down the river.
河童の道具	The Tools of the Kappa
河童が創り出す道具は、外の世界の道具と共に、幻想郷の二大近代道具として重宝されている。	The tools created by the kappa and the tools of the outer world are treasured as the two greatest varieties in Gensokyo today.
だが、大抵の道具は使い方が判らない。	However, it is unknown how to use most of the tools.
天狗が使う写真機なんかが良い例である。	The photographing devices used by the tengu are a good example of this.
ボタンを押しても何故かウンともスンとも言わない。	Even when the button is pressed, it remains silent for some reason.
他にも、何故か狂わないで正確に時を刻む時計や、遠くの人と会話出来る道具。	Others include clocks that somehow tells time with inerrant precision and devices allowing people to hold conversations at a distance.
離れた場所に映像を送る送信機と受信機等、様々な道具を生み出し（＊３）、山の社会を高度な物にしているという。	The mountain society is said to have become very advanced with these various devices, (*3) including ones for transmitting images to other places, as well as receiving them.
河童の生活	The Lifestyle of the Kappa
河童は泳ぎが得意だが、別に水の中に棲んでいる訳ではない。	Swimming may be their strong point, but it is not as if kappa actually live in water.
普段は地上に暮らし、道具を作っているのも地上である。	They usually live on land, where they also make their tools.
敵が来ると水に潜り姿を隠す。	If an enemy approaches they dive into the water and hide.
ただ、人間より長く水の中に居られるが、無限に息が続く訳ではなく、やはり時折息継ぎをする（＊４）。	However, while they can stay underwater longer than a human, they cannot remain there forever. They must surface for air eventually (*4).
河童の服は水はけが良く、着たまま水に潜る事が出来、泳ぎの邪魔になったりする事は無い。	Kappa clothing is very water-resistant, so it is possible to wear it into the water, and it won't interfere while swimming.
＊３　外の世界の道具を見よう見まねで作ったとも言われるが、防水効果は抜群。	3: It is also said that they are created by copying the devices from the outside world, but their waterproofing is outstanding.
＊４　一息で数時間は持つ。	4: They can hold their breath for several hours.

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