A coloring page of the Shigaraki tanuki (raccoon dog) — the friendly ceramic statue so often seen outside Japanese shops. With its big eyes, straw hat, and a sake flask and ledger in hand, it is full of charm. In fact, eight parts of its body each carry a lucky, auspicious meaning.
🗣 Conversation Starters — for care activities and family time
“Have you ever seen a Shigaraki tanuki? Was one placed outside a shop?”
“Do you display any lucky charms or good-fortune ornaments at home?”
“What old folk tales come to mind when you think of the tanuki?”
What are the eight lucky meanings of the Shigaraki tanuki?
The Shigaraki tanuki carries eight lucky meanings known as hasso-engi: (1) the straw hat wards off trouble; (2) the eyes stand for good judgment by watching one’s surroundings; (3) the smile for friendliness; (4) the sake flask for virtue; (5) the ledger for trust and credit; (6) the big belly for boldness; (7) the tail for seeing things through to a solid finish; (8) the money pouch for financial fortune. It is placed outside shops as a charm for prosperous business.
When did people start making Shigaraki tanuki?
The Shigaraki tanuki became widely known in 1951. When Emperor Showa visited the town of Shigaraki in Shiga Prefecture, tanuki figures were lined up along the roadside, and a poem the Emperor composed about the sight made them famous nationwide.
Why is the tanuki a symbol of business prosperity?
The word tanuki puns on ta-nuki, “to outdo others,” which is why it is seen as a charm for thriving business. Its round belly is also likened to a drum (haratsuzumi), suggesting a big-hearted, generous nature that draws people in.
