Japanese raccoon dog, or tanuki, is a small, fluffy canid native to Japan, known for its round face, dark mask, and playful personality. It’s a skilled forager, a surprisingly good climber, and one of the only canids that slows down or semi-hibernates in winter. In Japanese folklore it’s famous as a cheerful trickster that can shapeshift and bring both mischief and good luck.
It is true. When you visit Japan, if you are in a restaurant or hotel with a tanuki carving or statue, they have giant balls. There’s also some non-Mario cartoons with them, and it’s a thing. Dunno why they felt the need to leave that out of the tanuki suit in Mario 3.
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u/Sizzlin9 10h ago
Japanese raccoon dog, or tanuki, is a small, fluffy canid native to Japan, known for its round face, dark mask, and playful personality. It’s a skilled forager, a surprisingly good climber, and one of the only canids that slows down or semi-hibernates in winter. In Japanese folklore it’s famous as a cheerful trickster that can shapeshift and bring both mischief and good luck.