No. 149Folk & Fairy

Tanuki

狸（たぬき）

The shape-shifting raccoon dog: jolly trickster and shopfront good-luck charm

The tanuki is the Japanese raccoon dog, a real animal with a prominent place in Japanese folklore. In tales it becomes the bake-danuki, a shape-shifting yōkai that can appear as a monk, a traveller or even a teakettle, though its tail often gives the game away. Jolly, gullible and fond of a party, it drums its round belly under the moon.

Today the best-known image is the glazed Shigaraki-ware tanuki, a modern good-luck charm that grew out of this lore. It greets passers-by outside shops and restaurants as a symbol of hospitality, trust and good fortune in business. The tanuki also appears in temple legends, such as Shukaku at Morin-ji.

Shop TanukiSee the gallery
Tanuki

How to recognise Tanuki

  1. Straw hat (kasa)A broad hat woven from rice or sedge straw, read as protection from rain and misfortune.
  2. Eyes and smileBig, round, attentive eyes above a broad, friendly smile, read as careful watchfulness and warm welcome.
  3. Round bellyA large, plump belly, read as calm and bold decision-making; in folklore it is the drum the tanuki beats under the moon.
  4. Sake flask (tokkuri)A small, narrow-necked flask, read as gratitude for food and drink and as moderation.
  5. Ledger and pouchA closed ledger or promissory book stands for trust and good credit, and a small cloth drawstring pouch stands for financial luck.
  6. Bushy tailA large, thick tail, read as seeing things through to a good ending; in tales it is also what gives a disguised tanuki away.
  7. LeafIn folklore the tanuki changes shape by placing a leaf on its head, so a small leaf marks the shape-shifting pose.

Names and titles

  • Master of DisguiseThe bake-danuki of folklore can change into people and objects, often with one detail left wrong
  • Lucky Greeter at the Shop DoorThe Shigaraki figure stands outside shops and restaurants as a welcome and good-luck charm
  • Eight Lucky FeaturesThe Shigaraki tanuki is read through the eight auspicious features (hassō engi): hat, eyes, smile, belly, flask, ledger, tail and pouch
  • Belly Drum by MoonlightIn the Shōjōji legend and its children's song, tanuki drum their bellies on moonlit nights
  • The Wonderful Tea KettleIn Bunbuku Chagama, a tanuki turns into a teakettle to repay its rescuer's kindness

Feast days

  • Shigaraki Tanuki Day (信楽たぬきの日)8 November, every year

Tanuki in the shop

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: Japanese raccoon dog
  2. Wikipedia: Bake-danuki
  3. Gods and Monsters: Tanuki
  4. Wikipedia: Tanuki statue
  5. Government of Japan (Highlighting Japan): March 2026
  6. Daiyokai: Tanuki, trickster yokai and good fortune
  7. Kodack: Tanuki meaning
  8. KCFG Japan: Tanuki
  9. Jeepe: Shigaraki tanuki guide
  10. Iwafu: Event listing
  11. Atlas Obscura: Morin-ji Temple
  12. Yokai.jp: Morinji-no-kama
  13. Yokai.com: Shukaku
  14. Wikipedia: Bunbuku Chagama
  15. Yokai.jp: Tanuki
  16. Wikipedia: Tanuki-bayashi
  17. Nishikata Eiga: Belly drum dance at Shojoji Temple
  18. Komuso.com: Piece 1479
  19. Folklore Thursday: Tanuki, mischief, magic and change in the Japanese countryside
  20. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Tanuki hunting with nets (Tanuki no amiuchi)
  21. Metropolitan Museum of Art: Collection object 59281
  22. Nurie-Land: Shigaraki tanuki coloring page
  23. Wikipedia: Pom Poko
  24. Umami Mart: What is tanuki
  25. Wikipedia: Awa no Tanuki Festival
  26. Traditional Kyoto: Badgers
  27. Kyoto Journal: Tanuki tanuki
  28. Wikipedia: Yashima no Hage-tanuki
  29. Kimurakami: Tanuki
  30. History of Japan: Tanuki
  31. Wikipedia: Tanuki

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