The Tanuki Myth

The English name for tanuki is "raccoon dog". Tanuki appear often in Japanese folklore as shape-shifters with supernatural powers and mischievous tendencies. Animals with the power of transformation for either benevolent or malevolent purposes are called Henge in Japan. In Japanese folklore, Tanuki are considered masters of transformation, as in Tengu the bird-man goblin of the forest and mountain who is revered as the slayer of vanity and pride. Tanuki statues are found everywhere around Japan, especially outside restaurants and bars, where the Tanuki beckons drinkers and dinners to enter. The beckoning Tanuki is most often depicted with a big round tummy, gigantic scrotum, a flask of sake, a promissory note, and a straw hat. Like most tricksters, the tanuki can be comic but also cruel. In folklore, the tanuki is a shape-shifter. In addition to changing its own shape, the tanuki can create illusions, making things seem to appear that are not really there. When the tanuki creates an illusion, it supposedly chants magic words and rubs leaves on its head. 

What's with the gigantic scrotum ?

A curious and defining characteristic of Tanuki is its gigantic scrotum. According to some legends, the scrotum can be stretched to the size of eight tatami mats. The scrotum are supposedly symbols of good luck rather than overt sexual symbols. According to Japanese legends, a tanuki would inflate its belly or its testicles and beat upon it with its paws to scare wayfarers: pon poko pon poko pon.

In biological terms, the mythical Tanuki's large scrotum are a true depiction of the real-life Tanuki. According to evolutionary biologists, the Tanuki's scrotum is large because of fierce competition among Tanuki males for females. Phrased differently, Tanuki copulate frequently, and those Tanuki with larger scrotum size have a greater chance of getting their genes into the next generation.

What's with the leave on head ?

The shape-shifting Tanuki is said to put leaves on its heads and to chant prior to transformation. In some legends, the leaf is the sacred lotus plant of Buddhism. It is also believed that Tanuki can change leaves into money.