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Tanuki
In Japanese, Tanuki can refer to the subspecies of raccoon dog native to Japan or the youkai based on said animal. Tanuki are usually represented with large bellies, which they may beat on like a drum. The males are also often depicted with infamously large "balls".
Tanuki are renowned shapeshifters in Japanese folklore; in addition to transforming into human beings, tanuki can transform into objects such as trees or teapots. Leaves are often a component to the tanuki's shapeshifting magic, and tanuki would often fool merchants by paying them with leaves disguised as paper money. Like the maneki neko, tanuki are believed to represent good fortune, and they are often associated with precious metals.
Touhou
Tanuki appear to be a rather common youkai in Gensokyo much like how the Raccoon Dogs as a whole are a successful species throughout East Asia and to many introduced areas. Tanuki appear to be the first culprit for minor events such as Reisen being mistaken for one by Reimu during her travel to earth in Silent Sinner in Blue.
Characters under this Bestiary
See Also
- Wikipedia entry for Tanuki
- Wikipedia entry for Japanese Raccoon Dog
- Obakemono entry for Tanuki