Bake-danuki

◆ The legend

Alongside the fox, the tanuki (a raccoon dog native to Japan) is the country's great master of disguise. An old tanuki is said to gain strange powers and to fool people by turning into a person, a household object, or even a grand mansion. The picture of a tanuki placing a leaf on its head before it transforms is a familiar one from folktales and old prints. Many places also tell of tanuki drumming on their round bellies on moonlit nights.

Still, tanuki tricks tend to go a little wrong. They let their tails show and get found out, or end up being outwitted by the very people they meant to fool. The fox is often held in awe as a messenger of the gods, but the tanuki has been told of more like a lovable neighbor. Shikoku is especially rich in tanuki tales, and many of its towns are said to have had a famous boss tanuki of their own.