The tanuki (狸) or Japanese raccoon dog is a small canine animal from Japan, reaching up to 65 cm in length and weighing between 4 to 10 kg. One of its most recognized physical characteristics is the black markings around its eyes. They can be found in mountains and plains, but are common in forests and even seen in villages.
In some regions of Japan, the tanuki raccoon dog may be known by the name mujina. Some question whether a tanuki is a dog, raccoon, or badger, since the word mujina is used for both.
We also recommend reading:
- Animals in Japanese (動物 – Doubutsu)
- Zao Kitsune Mura – Fox Village in Japan
- 15 Japanese monsters, myths, and legends
Table of Contents
Behavior and Lifestyle
They are omnivores, but can eat both seeds and frogs, lizards, and small rodents. Although they are wild animals, they are not aggressive; they prefer to flee from a fight, even pretending to be dead to avoid threats or predators.
They are animals that have only one partner during their life, their gestation lasts approximately 60 days, and the male helps raise the pups by providing food for both them and the female until the weaning period, which lasts 50 days after birth. See a video about tanuki below:
They are the only ones of their species that during the cold season enter a state similar to hibernation, but before that, they can increase their body mass by 50% to store fat. They also have other peculiar characteristics, such as curved claws that allow them to climb trees, and their teeth are relatively small.
Even though there are reports of people raising them as pets, many hunt these poor animals for their meat, reputed to have medicinal qualities, and their skins for clothing. A survey conducted between 2004 and 2005 indicated that about 1.5 million raccoon dogs were being raised for their fur, so much so that 11% of all animals hunted in Japan are Tanukis. However, efforts are already being made to control and inhibit this type of practice throughout the country.
Like the fox, the Tanuki is frequently represented in Japanese folklore with the ability to change its original form. It is depicted in paintings and statues wearing a straw hat and holding a bottle of sake. It also appears in art with a big belly and a huge scrotum. They are portrayed in tales as playful, cheerful, and friendly beings, yet they have mischievous tendencies.
Tanuki in Japanese Culture
Even though it was depicted by the ancients as a scary and mysterious monster, today it has transformed into a representation of generosity, fun, and innocence, so much so that its statues are often seen in Japanese businesses and in people’s homes, especially outside restaurants and bars to attract customers.
Some believe in a legendary tanuki that can bring good fortune and luck. This tanuki has eight traits that are often found on sake bottles and statues. There is even a festival called Awa no Tanuki, which takes place in Tokushima in November.
The tanuki became known in the West mainly through games like Super Mario Bros 3, where the character Mario acquires a costume called Tanooki Suit, which gives him the ability to fly and to transform into a statue that cannot be defeated.
Various anime and games have characters that represent the tanuki, either as an animal or as a half-human being. There are many other curiosities about the tanuki, but that will be for another time.
Did you enjoy learning a bit about the Tanuki? Have you ever seen one in person? Have you noticed any references in anime and manga? I hope you liked the article. We appreciate the comments and shares. To finish, we will leave other articles for you to read below:
Leave a Reply