The tanuki has a rather malevolent past. The oldest tales and legends speak not only of its possession of humans but also of its shape-shifting abilities.

One of the most famous myths about the tanuki is its power to transform into a beautiful woman, using this guise to play mischievous tricks on passersby. In addition to changing its own form, the tanuki can also transform objects, such as turning pebbles into gold or feces into food.

A common depiction of this magical and malevolent creature features a leaf on its forehead, which is believed to be the source of its power.

While leaves might be considered a source of the creature’s power, the true magic actually comes from a different body part: the scrotum. Remarkably stretchable and enlargable, this unusual magical scrotum can be used for various purposes.

Drawings and tales depict the tanuki using its scrotum to craft a boat to rescue people from a river or as a parachute or blanket. This is why many tanuki statues feature an exaggerated scrotum, as it is believed to bring good luck in business.

Over time, the malevolent tanuki evolved into a much tamer version. Although they still use their illusionary magic, they are now seen more as mild annoyances rather than actual threats, known for playing harmless tricks on travelers, hunters, or monks.

If you wander through the Japanese woods and hear music, it might be a tanuki playing its magical belly-drum. Be cautious and don’t follow the sound, or you might end up getting lost!

This shift in perception has led to the cheerful and happy depictions of tanuki in today’s sake-holding statues, which can be found in many shops across the country.

Another notable feature of these statues is the straw hat that nearly every tanuki wears. This hat, which first appeared around the 18th century, references an older song about a tanuki that steals sake from a brewery on rainy nights.

Today, the straw hat symbolizes preparedness for both bad weather and bad luck. It gradually replaced the magical leaf on the tanuki’s head over time.

While encountering a magical tanuki is quite rare, spotting a real-life tanuki is not uncommon. Similar to raccoons, they have begun to migrate to suburban and even urban areas, foraging for food in dumpsters or being fed by local residents.

You might come across one of these little shapeshifters while strolling through a city or village at night or in the early morning hours. Just be cautious not to be tricked by them!