I learned today that the Japanese raccoon dog, which is neither a raccoon nor a dog, has unusually large testicles. Beloved in Japanese folklore, statues of the raccoon dog, or tanuki, often take ...

Many tales from Japanese folklore often feature a fascinating character called the tanuki. Depending on the story, this creature might be mistaken for a badger, a fox, or even something akin to a ...

Many tales from Japanese folklore often feature a fascinating character called the tanuki. Depending on the story, this creature might be mistaken for a badger, a fox, or even something akin to a ...

They Hold an Important Position in Japanese Folklore . The version of tanuki often referred to in Japanese folklore is a mystical creature known as bake-danuki, which can be translated as "monster ...

Studio Ghibli films are rich with folklore references that enhance their magical storytelling. From kodama tree spirits in Princess Mononoke to the shape-shifting tanuki in Pom Poko, Ghibli’s ...

Since 7th century A.D., Tanuki have been cast in Japanese folklore as sneaky but benevolent rascals. More recently, a “raccoon dog” starred in the Studio Ghibli film Pom Poko and featured in ...

In the pantheon of yokai, spooky beings of Japanese folklore embody anxieties ancient and modern. On Shodoshima, an art contest helps bring new ones to life. By Motoko Rich and Hikari Hida ...

Shukaku’s legend originates from ancient Japanese folklore such as the story of Bunbuku Chagama, the tanuki who transformed into a teapot and delighted a priest.

Many tales from Japanese folklore often feature a fascinating character called the tanuki. Depending on the story, this creature might be mistaken for a badger, a fox, or even something akin to a ...