The Mystery of Kubitsuri Tanuki: Japan’s Hanging Spirit
When travelers think of Japan, they often picture the neon lights of Tokyo, the serene temples of Kyoto, or perhaps the cute, rotund statues of raccoon dogs sitting outside traditional pubs (izakaya). These statues represent the Tanuki, a symbol of prosperity and luck. However, dig a little deeper into Japanese folklore, and you will find a shadowy twin to this jovial mascot: the Kubitsuri Tanuki, or the “Hanging Tanuki.”
While the modern Tanuki is a lovable goofball, its ancestral spirit form—the Yokai—is a master of deception, shape-shifting, and occasionally, macabre humor. In this deep dive into Japanese culture, we explore the eerie legend of the Hanging Tanuki, separating the biology from the mythology.
Origins: From Animal to Apparition
To understand the Hanging Tanuki, one must first understand the Nyctereutes procyonoides, the Japanese raccoon dog. Unlike the North American raccoon, the Tanuki is a canid, related to wolves and dogs. In ancient Japan, they were viewed as possessors of supernatural powers, comparable to the Kitsune (foxes).
While foxes were associated with the aristocracy and religious shrines, Tanuki were the tricksters of the common people and nature. The specific manifestation of the Kubitsuri Tanuki likely stems from the Edo period (1603–1867), a golden age for ghost stories (kaidan) and supernatural art. The term “Kubitsuri” translates to “hanging by the neck.”
This specific variation of the myth highlights the creature’s dual nature. In some interpretations, the Tanuki shape-shifts into the form of a hanging person to terrify travelers passing through mountain passes at night. In others, it represents the animal itself being caught in a hunter’s snare, seeking revenge or release from beyond the grave. It is a stark contrast to the bottle-toting, hat-wearing statues we see today.
The Legend of the Forest Trickster
Folklore regarding the Hanging Tanuki is fragmented across various prefectures, but the core narrative remains consistent: the Tanuki is the ultimate illusionist.
One popular oral tradition from the Shikoku region—the heartland of Tanuki lore—tells of a samurai traveling through a dense forest at twilight. He stumbles upon a gruesome sight: a body hanging from a high branch. As the samurai draws his sword to cut the rope or investigate, the body suddenly convulses, transforms into a ball of fur, and drops on the samurai’s head before scampering away with a human-like cackle. The “hanging body” was merely a Tanuki using its massive scrotum (a traditional symbol of wealth and flexibility in folklore) or leaves to shape-shift and scare the intruder away from its territory.
Another darker variation involves the “Tanuki of the Trap.” In this version, a Tanuki that died in a hunter’s hanging snare returns as a vengeful spirit. It lures hunters into the deep woods by mimicking the sound of a crying baby or a distressed woman. When the hunter follows the sound, they find themselves disoriented, often falling off cliffs or becoming hopelessly lost—a phenomenon known as Tanuki-bayashi (spectral music).
Modern Culture: Anime and Mascots
Today, the terrifying image of the Kubitsuri Tanuki has largely been sanitized. Modern Japan prefers kawaii (cute) over scary.
- Studio Ghibli: The most famous representation of Tanuki culture is Isao Takahata’s film Pom Poko (1994). While the movie is largely humorous and ecological, it retains the folklore roots of shape-shifting and scaring humans, paying homage to the older, more frightening legends.
- Video Games: In games like Nioh or Yokai Watch, Tanuki appear as magical entities. They are rarely the horrifying Kubitsuri variant, but they retain their tricky, elusive nature.
- Ceramics: The Shigaraki-ware statues found outside restaurants depict the “Eight Virtues” of the Tanuki (big belly for boldness, hat for protection, etc.). The dark history of the “hanging” trickster has been replaced by a desire for financial luck.
Traveler’s Tips: Seeking the Tanuki
If you want to experience the mystical side of the Tanuki, skip the Tokyo gift shops and head to these locations:
1. Tokushima Prefecture (Shikoku)
Shikoku is the legendary home of the Tanuki. Visit the Awa Tanuki Festival in November. You can also visit Kinchō Daimyōjin, a shrine dedicated to a legendary Tanuki warrior. It is here that the line between history and folklore blurs most vividly.
2. Yashima Temple (Takamatsu)
Home to the Minoyama Daimyōjin, known as the Tasaburo Tanuki. This is one of the “Three Famous Tanuki of Japan.” The temple grounds are filled with statues and stories of the shape-shifting guardian.
3. Shigaraki (Shiga Prefecture)
For a lighter experience, visit the town of Shigaraki. It is the pottery capital responsible for the millions of lucky Tanuki statues seen across Japan. You can walk through “Tanuki Village” and buy your own ceramic guardian.
Sources & Further Reading
For those interested in diving deeper into the classical texts that define these creatures, consider the following:
- Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan): One of the earliest texts (720 AD) to mention the raccoon dog, though the magical attributes evolved later.
- Gazu Hyakki Yagyō (The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons): Created by Toriyama Sekien in the 18th century, this art book defined the visual appearance of many Yokai, including the Tanuki.
- Kwaidan: By Lafcadio Hearn. While it focuses on various ghosts, Hearn’s work is essential for understanding the atmosphere of Japanese supernatural folklore.
The Kubitsuri Tanuki serves as a reminder that in Japanese culture, nature is never just scenery—it is alive, watching, and occasionally, waiting to play a trick on the unsuspecting traveler.