Traditional Japanese ceramic tanuki - FUKUTANUKI

Traditional Japanese ceramic tanuki - FUKUTANUKI
The danuki bake (化 け 狸), better known in the West under the name of tanuki (タ ヌ キ or 狸) is, in Japanese mythology, one of the yōkai (spirits) of the forest, inspired by the raccoon dog, a species of canids resembling the raccoon and also sometimes confused with the badger, to which the Japanese attribute magical powers. Master of disguises, he is reputed to be able to change form at will. Tanuki are often depicted wearing a straw hat and a sake gourd, with a plump belly which they use like a drum and large testicles, which gave rise to humorous drawings and legends.