Tanuki

These are tanuki or raccoon-dogs. They are common in Japanese mythology and are also considered a type of youkai. Tanuki are one of the animals that are said to be able to assume human form. They are also seen with saki bottles and patting their big stomachs in a rather jovial manner. Another common thing about tanuki is their large teste, which can bee in the big one. The inclusion of the large teste has gone away mostly do the the heavy influence of American culture in Japan, but you can still find it. It use to be a lot more common before Western civilization came to Japan.

Tanuki are also the rival of kitsun and Masashi Kishimoto's inspiration for Shukaku Ichibi in Naruto.

This was taken at Kamakura.