Don't mess with the kappa

What's the connection between journalists, karaoke box waitresses and English teachers? None of them can hold a tune? All of them are alcoholics? No, silly. They all work anti-social hours. Since my students have to earn a living or attend primary school, I have to be available when they are. It makes for a natural rhythm to my day: Mornings are for teaching little kids; afternoons for housewives and retired folk; late afternoons for schoolkids; and evenings for salarymen (and women) popping by at 9pm to top up their English before bedtime. But don't fret, there's often the odd hour free between lessons despite being on call from 9am to 10pm weekdays and Saturdays too. Anyway, on one such moment of freedom, while riding my bike round Teganuma (that's the local lake, not an Aztec god) I saw a sign featuring the kappa water sprite, whose festival we attended the other day. On this sign, he is helpfully warning children not to throw rubbish in the lake. He looks cute here, but you wouldn't like him when he's angry.