Tanuki Soba

Commission for

The tanuki, also known in English as a raccoon dog is a real life animal indigenous to Japan that, in folklore, are said to be tricksters and shapeshifters. One of their most famous tricks is to transform leaves into money and use them to pay for things. Theyre sometimes translated in anime and manga as bagers or raccoons, however tanuki are actually part of the canine family.

Tanuki soba is made with leftover bits of tempera batter. It's named after the tanuki because paying someone else's leftovers is a bit like falling for a tanuki trick.

links
Buddhism & Shintoism in Japan A-to-Z Photo Dictionary of Japanese Sculpture & Art
Obakemono Project
Matthew Meyer's Yokai-a-Day
Monstropedia
Video of tanukis eating from a guy's hand