Introduction
We find a racoon dog in front of shops, stores, and restaurant. It is a very popular Shigaraki Yaki Tanuki figurine brings us, especially merchants, prosperity. Shigaraki Yaki is pottery made in Shigaraki, Shiga prefecture.
In 1951, Shigaraki people put the figurines of Tanuki, one of them had a national flag in his hand, in order to welcome Emperor Showa.
His Imperial Majesty replied their welcome reading a poem: “おさなとき あつめしからに なつかしも 信楽焼の 狸を見れば (These figurines reminds me of my collection of favorite things in my childhood.)
This story made Tanukis famous all through the archipelago.
Hasso Engi 八相縁起
The reason we love figurines of Tanuki is Hasso Engi they had. Hasso Engi means “The eight Engi.” Engi is a basic idea of Buddhism. In this idea, everything, good or evil, has cause and effect. For example, when a flower blooms, the flower is an effect and the seed is a cause. And people emphasize the good effect as time went by, many people misunderstand Engi is something bring them good luck. Hasso Engi of Tanuki means this Engi.
Hasso Engi of Tanuki 狸の八相縁起
Kasa 笠
Kasa is traditional hat to prevent rain or sunbeam. It implies, “Prepare for unexpected misfortunes.”
Smile スマイル
When you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you.
Big Eyes 大きな目
Have a broad view to make a right decision.
Pot Belly ぽっちゃりお腹
In Japan, sometimes a person with pot belly seems to be balanced and make a right decision.
Tokkuri 徳利
Tokkuri is a Sake container and written as 徳利 in Kanji. 徳 means virtue. The Tokkuri indicates, “Be a person with virtue.”
Kayoi Cho 通い帳
Kayoi Cho is a traditional notebook for bookkeeping. It implies customers.
With Kayoi Cho, merchants collected A/R.
Tail しっぽ
The tail implies good result, in a nutshell, prosperity in business.
Balls 金玉
In Japanese, we call them “金玉 (Golden Balls) in colloquial way.” 金 also means “money.” They make us rich.
Where can we meet them?
There are many Tanuki figurine in Tanukidani San Fudoin , the temple famous for the Kakezukuri stage and the waterfall where Miyamoto Musahi would practice.
Like Kiyomizudera temple.
It takes at last half an hour from Ichijoji Sagarimatsu cho bus stop on foot.
Where can we buy them?
We can buy Tanuki figurines at souvenir shops in Kyoto. At Kotoen in Arashiyama, many types of them are available. The green line indicates the Bamboo forest.
