Tanuki-chan

I’m a big fan of this character. Tanuki is actually the common name for the raccoon dog found in the wild, but Tanuki also has deep roots in Japanese folklore as a mischievous character with a love for sake, uncommonly large testicles, and a welcoming personality. As a result, Tanuki statues can often be found outside of restaurants, bars, or homes beckoning guests to come in and enjoy themselves.

Because of his love for sake, Tanuki is always shown with a large sake bottle and a promissory note or empty purse. This is seen as a reminder not to be stingy and enjoy life. Also, Tanuki is always depicted with a bamboo hat to protect against trouble, a big tail, a big belly, and a friendly smile.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t explain the uncommonly large testicles that are a big part of the folklore. Also known as Kinbukuro (金袋), which means ‘money bags’ or ‘golden balls’, this feature can be found on all the statues as a symbol of financial luck. Legend also has it that Tanuki has large testicles because he is over-sexed, which is actually biologically true of the real-life raccoon dog because of fierce competition among males for female ‘companionship.’

To see Tanuki and his…ahem…testicles in action, check out this link!