Tanuki

**Tanuki** are a broad class of shapeshifting animal spirits native to Japan.

## **Characteristics**

Tanuki are often mischievous and jolly, but also somewhat gullible and absentminded. Notoriously found of alcohol and parties, they can become at times violent or unpleasant if drunk or deprived of their favourite drinks. Unlike Kitsunes, Tanuki usually have their own agenda and are prone causing chaos and confusion amongst humans and, sometimes, other supernatural creatures.

Tanuki are masters of illusion. They can shapeshift into any form they choose: from a crooked old woman to a bottle of white wine. These devious magicians are also good at transporting people and casting small curses.

When they are in disguise, they like to use little rhymes to lure people into their games, which inevitably end in inconvenience or embarrassment. They like to trick people into touching enchanted objects, like umbrellas or rice cakes, which will cause the person to be transported into the distant wilderness. Their favorite curses cause inconvenience by forcing people to run around hills or chase after enchanted objects.

## **Types of Tanuki**

There are various different types of Tanuki, they are classified by where they inhabit and/or their preformed forms to take.

### Bake-danuki

The most common type of Tanuki, they are associated with Kitsunes and act as messengers for high-ranking gods.

### Akadenchū

In the middle of night, it would disguise themselves as a child in a red denchū (a sleeveless hanten), who insistently begs to be carried on one's back. Since it seems pleasant even when one carries them on one's back, it would beat on that person's shoulders.

### Fukurosage

Found in the village of Oomachi, these Tanuki climbs large trees, caught the attention of passersby, and dangled white bags.

### Kasasashi-tanuki

During times like rainy evenings, they would disguise themselves as a person and invite people to shelter under its umbrella. They are found in the town of Ikeda.

### Kubitsuri-tanuki

Normally found in the town of Yutani, they are said to lure people and cause them to be hanged by the neck.

### Kozō-tanuki

Found in the town of Yoshinogawa, this type of Tanuki would disguise themselves as a young priest and stand in the way of passersby, and if one gets angry and cuts it with a sword, it would multiply in numbers all night long.

### Bōzu-tanuki

Commonly found in the town of Tsurugi, when people cross a bridge named "Bōzu Bridge", before they know it, they would find their hair shaven.

### Shirodokkuri

Found in the city of Naruto, These Tanuki would disguise themselves as a white wine bottle, but when people try to pick it up, it would roll around making it impossible for people to catch it.

### Jūbakobaba

It is said that these old Tanuki would disguise themself as an old woman with a jūbako in her hand. In Kumamoto, the jūbakobaba would furthermore, while saying "as a jūbakobaba (old woman with a jūbako), do you need a treat or not," deceive people with a rock-like object.

### Owarezaka

Upon passing by a certain hill during the night, there will be a voice saying "will you carry me on your back, will you carry me (oware yo ka, oware yo ka)."

### Kinu-tanuki

These kinds of Tanuki prefer to take on the form of objects made from silk, nothing else much is known about them.

### Usagi-tanuki

Tokushima Prefecture. On the small hill of Takaoka along the Yoshino River, they would disguise themselves as a rabbit and run at ease, and when people find it and think of it as a suitable catch, they would end up running around Takaoka hill several times.

### Uchiwata-danuki

Kagawa Prefecture. They would transform their appearance into a piece of cotton and roll along the roadside, but when people try to pick it up, it would start to move and rise to the sky.

## **Similar Creatures**

Similar creatures include:

* **Muijina** (Japan)
* **Mami** (Japan)

## **Powers and Abilities**

* **Super Strength**- Tanuki are naturally stronger than humans in any form they take, they can easily overpower humans if they feel threatened or if they are drunk.
* **Super Speed**- All Tanuki possess speed greater than that of a dog and a raccoon combined, making them much faster than any human. They retain this ability even while in disguise.
* **Super Senses**- Their senses of sight, smell, and hearing are greatly enhanced, they can see in the dark and can smell and hear from great distances, similar to actual dogs and raccoons.
* **Super Agility**- Tanuki are much more nimble and agile then humans, while in their true form they possess large raccoon-like tails which they can use to balance themselves.
* **Super Stamina**- Similar to dogs and raccoons, they have enhanced stamina which allows them to go for longer periods of time without rest.
* **Advanced Invulnerability** - Human weapons have no effect on Tanuki, while they can be harmed by them, they cannot be killed with them. Only a god or a weapon of a god can kill a Tanuki.
* **Shapeshifting**- Tanuki are master shapeshifters, many go through their whole lives living among humans without ever being detected. While they are in human form, Tanuki have proven to be as corruptible as the humans they mimic. Additionally, many use their shapeshifting powers to transform into stones, trees, statues, and even ordinary household items in order to play tricks on people.
* **Possession**- When Tanuki possess human beings, their victims develop strange new personality traits. One of the most common changes is gluttony. Victims become intensely hungry and eat and eat, even going so far as to eat spoiled and ruined food. Although possessed humans grow vast waists from this gluttony, all of the nutrition goes to the Tanuki. Victims only grow weaker and weaker until finally they die from malnutrition. Tanuki possess humans for various reasons, but common ones include revenge for destroying the Tanuki’s den, or simply just as a prank.
* **Reality Warping**- If a Tanuki feels threatened, or just wants to play a prank, they are able to cause misfortune to plague a particular person.
* **Apporting**- Many Tanuki are known for transporting people to different locations in their mischief, in some cases they will teleport a person to another country.

## **Weaknesses**

* **Deities** - Gods are capable of effortlessly killing a Tanuki.
* **Divine Weaponry** - The only weapons capable of harming and killing a Tanuki as common human weapons are incapable of causing them any lasting harm.
* **Alcohol** - Tanuki love alcohol, so much to the extent that they will become drunk.
* **Magic**- Magic can be used to bind a Tanuki to a person's will.