kappa; water imp
A mythical water-dwelling creature from Japanese folklore, often depicted as a child-sized humanoid with a dish-like depression on its head. 河太郎 is a common name for kappa, especially in certain regions. The reading かわたろう is standard; variants like がわたろう and がたろう exist in dialects or older texts.
See also: 河童
Kappa often appear in old folktales.
There is a legend that a kappa lives in this river.
河童 is the most common and standard word for the kappa creature. 河太郎 is a less common alternate name, sometimes used regionally or in specific stories.
Standard kanji spelling for the kappa creature; 河 means 'river' and 太郎 is a common name suffix.
Variant using 川 (river) instead of 河; both are used for kappa names.
The name 河太郎 literally means 'river Tarō', a common naming pattern for mythical beings. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is likely a personification of the river spirit.