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Tanuki

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Tanuki (; タヌキ) refers to either the subspecies of raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus) native to Japan or the species known as Nyctereutes procyonoides. Different subspecies of raccoon dogs have either a prefix before tanuki, are called by their native name, or known by their scientific name. 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," which are meant to represent financial fortune.

Bake-danuki (化け狸, "monster raccoon dog") is the youkai form of the tanuki in Japanese folklore; in addition to shapeshifting into humans, bake-danuki can transform into objects such as trees or teapots. Leaves are often a component to the tanuki's shapeshifting magic, and bake-danuki 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.

Tanuki in Touhou

Bake-danuki are very 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.[1] Tanuki appear to be the first culprit for various minor events in Gensokyo, usually depicted in the manga series (such as Reisen being mistaken for a tanuki by Reimu Hakurei during her travel to earth in Silent Sinner in Blue).

Characters under this Bestiary

See Also

References