Japan Female Tanuki Statue - Ceramic Raccoon Dog Figure

Description
Small ceramic Japanese female Tanuki statue. The Tanuki or "Raccoon Dog" is a well known and very popular character in Japanese art, song and especially children's literature. Tanuki are, in fact, real animals resembling raccoons in both size and general appearance. The animal's habitat includes most of the Japanese islands as well as much of central Asia and even parts of Eastern Europe (they have even been spotted in Germany!). The Japanese have long used the image of the Tanuki as a symbol of the dangers of overindulgence in alcohol. A famous and very commonly seen type of Tanuki statue features a pot-bellied male specimen standing on two feet with an empty purse in one hand and an empty jug of sake in the other. The animals genitals are distinctly visible with a rather shrunken penis and grotesquely swollen testes. The message behind this curious image is that an excess of sake will leave one with an empty purse and full libido yet diminished ability to perform. Perhaps this story explains why Tanuki statues are a common sight at the entrance to many Japanese bars and nightclubs.

Description
This small ceramic figure depicts a demure female Tanuki. This statue is less than 40 years old and is in good condition with no cracks or chips and only a few marks and scratches.

Size:
Height: 5.1 inches (13.0 cm)
Weight: 7.0 ounces (201 grams)

More about Tanuki
One of the most famous Tanuki stories tells of how a clever raccoon dog once changed himself into a large iron cooking pot in order to avoid being captured by a hunter. However, after discovering the pot the hunter then took it home to use in cooking his dinner. When the pot was placed over the fire it promptly transformed back into a Tanuki which scampered away into the night leaving the startled hunter in stunned amazement. It is therefore not uncommon to see Japanese art which depicts Tanuki in association with cook pots (please see last photo below).

item code: R1S6-0003198
ship code: L1650

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Japan
• Tanuki
• Raccoon
• Dog
• statue
• sake

[fxxfred1994]

dude he's just a expert in that kind of things stop fucking hattin'!!

[Lamnont]

Like you?

[xINVISIGOTHx]

that is a creepy statue

[I2AsiaDivision]

Actually, the empty sake bottle and promissory note are GOOD things. The promissory note stands for reliability, and the sake is good too. The male ones with huge balls stand for financial success.

This video really gives the wrong idea, please do some more research.

Will you please add a small note to the end?

Resources: My Japanese (from Japan, who is Japanese) teacher who loves Tanuki.

[rambolane1]

i just found one of these at my local goodwill do you know how much its worth if anything? it is exactly like yours. i bought it because it was funny and no one would believe me unless i bought it lol

[goreombola]

That's a leaf? I thought it was a penis. Man, I love those crazy japs.

[kakairuislove]

they are kept as pets Ive got 2 there expensive

[softypapa]

Hello again Symph909, I'm glad you found this video. I think you might also enjoy the other video I referenced in my previous message as it shows what the real animal looks like. Thanks for watching and commenting! -Kurt :-)

[Symph909]

AHA! Found it :D

It appeared at a video game I used to play when i was a kid and always left me wondering what the story could be behind it.

I thought it had a little more mystical background story though.. But it's sounds pretty cool either way.

Thanks for posting all these videos! Actually.. I think I'm subscribing.. lol