The Tanuki in Japanese Popular Culture (Oversized Balls and All)
During even the briefest of meanders around metropolitan Japan, the visitor will often spot a tanuki statue – or a pair – or multiples – or a myriad.
This article explores the cultural significance of the tanuki, a Japanese raccoon dog, in popular culture. It explains the symbolism behind the tanuki's oversized testicles, which represent luck and wealth, and traces the origin of the tanuki statue tradition to a 1951 event when Emperor Shōwa visited Shigaraki.
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