Object №262

Tanuki ( 狸 , タヌキ)

Tanuki symbolize happiness and prosperity. In Japan, he is the second most popular werebeast . (the first is kitsune 狐 ).
Unlike kitsune, the image of a tanuki is practically devoid of negative connotations.

It is believed that tanuki are big drinkers of sake. Therefore, without his presence, good sake cannot be made. For the same reason, tanuki figurines, sometimes very large, are the decoration of many drinking establishments. They depict the tanuki as a fat, kind-hearted man with a noticeable abdomen, from under which the scrotum is visible.

It is believed that tanuki can inflate them to an incredible size. There is a belief that if a piece of gold is wrapped in a tanuki skin and beaten, it will also increase in size. Thanks to this, the tanuki is revered not only as the patron of drinking establishments, but also as the patron of trade.
Sometimes a tanuki likes to play a trick on a person, but he himself is gullible and unlucky, because of which he often gets into trouble. Tanuki can turn into a person and even into an object.

In one fairy tale, for example, a tanuki turned into a teapot, and people put it on fire.

In translation into Russian, especially adapted, the name of the animal is often changed to raccoon or badger.
When I took the photo shot of the tanuki, I used a light that emphasizes the ambiguity.

Photo is clickable for high-res.
Canon EOS2000D
YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8 II ISO 200
PhotoShop

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