The Tanukis are creatures that are based on a mammal that is a close relative of the raccoon. The bake-danuki (化け狸) is the yokai found in Japanese classics, folklore, and legends.
Origin[]
The inspiration for the magical Tanuki is believed to come from China, where people believed in god-like, shape-shifting wildcats, usually leopards. Because Japan didn’t have any animals quite like the fearsome leopard, Japanese scholars transferred the power to other creatures like stray cats, badgers, weasels, and even wild boars. Eventually, the Kitsune and the Raccoon Dog became the most popular vessels for these magical powers, and they were revered as gods who ruled over nature.
When Buddhism took root in Japan, deifying animals began to be seen as primitive. Only animals like foxes and snakes, who were associated with the gods, could be thought of as powerful. The Raccoon Dog, who was once treated like a god, became a bumbling trickster with laughable powers.
Behavior[]
When they are in disguise, they like to use little rhymes to lure people into their games, which inevitably end in inconvenience or embarrassment.They like to trick people into touching enchanted objects, like umbrellas or rice cakes, which will cause the person to be transported into the distant wilderness. Their favorite curses cause inconvenience by forcing people to run around hills or chase after enchanted objects.