24+ Folklore Japanese Raccoon Dog

The subspecies of raccoon dog native to japan is known as the tanuki.

Folklore japanese raccoon dog. Many japanese businesses display statues of bake danuke to represent prosperity and good luck. Here are some fascinating facts about the adorable omnivorous creatures. This particular spirit supposedly brings good fortune and prosperity. Tanuki the tipsy trickster. It is indeed what it sounds like. Amongst these is the tanuki 狸 or japanese raccoon dog. The japanese raccoon dog is a real species but its family tree is hotly debated by scientists.

Viverrinus or that raccoon dogs of japan could be further divisible into separate subspecies as n. In folklore tanuki is believed to be a supernatural animal bringing good fortune and happiness. A sculpture of tanuki a japanese raccoon dog. Pronounced is a subspecies of the asian raccoon dog. The raccoon dog nyctereutes procyonoides from the greek words nykt night ereutēs wanderer prokyōn before dog but in new latin used to mean raccoon oidēs similar to also known as the mangut its evenki name tanuki or neoguri is a canid indigenous to east asia it is the only extant species in the genus nyctereutes despite its name its closest relatives are. Japanese folklore encompasses a wide variety of mythical monsters yōkai 妖怪 some scary some lucky and some a bit more on the mysterious side. Why a well endowed raccoon dog is big in japan copy link facebook twitter reddit flipboard pocket a tanuki far from home in brisbane australia photograph by the author.

One shape shifting mythical spirit in japanese folklore is called bake danuke which translates to monster raccoon dog it s commonly shown with a big belly and a large scrotum. Five subspecies of raccoon dogs exist including a japanese species called nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus or tanuki. Researchers have suggested that they be considered a separate species n. It is undoubtedly a close relative of the asian raccoon dog but many scientists believe it is a separate species. The raccoon dog who was once treated like a god became a bumbling trickster with laughable powers. In addition to being a real animal tanuki are also found throughout japanese folklore as mystical shape shifting spirits. Procyonoides hondo tanuki ホンドタ.

Not to be mistaken with the image of a typical raccoon the tanuki is actually an unrelated animal with somewhat similar physical features.