Matching 50 mythical creatures with each of the 50 states

Ohio:  Frog Men

If you are from Ohio, you have likely heard about a number of the weird creatures that live in the state. Among the monsters and creatures that the state is known for are the Grassmen, the Mothman (apparently he gets around), the Minerva Monster, a Cedar Bog Monster, the Crosswick Monster, and even the iconic Loveland Frog Men. However, none of these creatures felt like the way to go when it came to a monster to represent the state.

So which creature felt like it would work for the state of Ohio? Well, in this case, we took a look at the Frog Men and were inspired to adopt the Kappa, a creature from Japanese folklore that is turtle-like in appearance. It feels like the Kappa is the perfect cousin to the Frog Men, so it only makes sense to make them the more official state creature.

But what is it about this turtlelike monster makes them so fascinating?  According to folklore, these creatures are actually demons with magical powers. While many stories have them playing tricks on people that are harmless, in others the Kappa is a bit more sinister in nature, with a willingness to kidnap children among other less than innocent deeds.

However, the part of the legend that is the most interesting has to do with the source of its power – the Sara, a bowl-like dent on its head. The Sara must always be filled with water, and if you are able to knock the water out of that dent in their head, you will weaken the Kappa. But, if you are willing to show mercy to the monster and refill their head with water, you will end up gaining a good friend for the rest of your life, and someone who will be a true helper.

And really, this just makes us feel like the Kappa is the perfect monster for the state of Ohio.