The Japanese myth of the trickster raccoon - Iseult Gillespie

Dive into the Japanese myth of the shape-shifting tanuki, as the raccoon-like creature rewards a traveling salesman for his kindness.
--
On the dusty roads of a small village, a traveling salesman was having difficulty selling his wares. As he wandered the outskirts of town in the hopes of finding some new customers, he heard a high-pitched yelp coming from the edge of the forest. Following the screams to their source, he discovered a trapped tanuki. Iseult Gillespie details the Japanese myth of the shape-shifting creature.
Lesson by Iseult Gillespie, directed by Anna Samo.
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Paul Aldred-Bann, Manav parmar, Susan Wang, Utkarsh Dubey, Thawsitt, Xuebicoco, Jezabel, Maeve, Kim Humphrey, Kristen Damas, JackKeyton, Matthew D. Vigil, Amin Shahril, Adriano Fontes, Xiao Yu, Fatima Kried, Aravind Battaje, Melissa Suarez, Jason Duncan, Brian A. Dunn, Francisco Amaya, Daisuke Goto, Matt Switzler, Chhunheng Veng, Leonardo Monrroy, Sumedh Ghaisas, Guhten, Amer Harb, Dowey Baothman, Norbert Orgován, Shafeeq Ansari, Gabriel Balsa, Maryam Sultan, Bethany Connor, Jeremy Shimanek, Adam Foreman, Sebastiaan Vleugels, Lâm Nguyễn, Mark Byers, Bradley Heinold, Monkeypatcher, Laurence McMillan, Connor Roberts, Dmitry Neverov, Tonya Ratliff-Garrison, Avinash Amarnath, Eric McDaniel, Cristian Cristian, France Lipužič and EdoKun.

[@TEDEd]

Did you know TED-Ed now publishes animations in Japanese? Check out and subscribe to our new channel: bit.ly/3GuCtRW

[@sarad2487]

Ok btw first

[@alexandermarsh918]

Tenuki: can shapeshift into a teapot Also Tenuki: can't escape a hunting trap *visible confusion*

[@primeroyal7434]

Maybe it was a test who knows?

[@tallymark2417]

It couldn’t reach

[@TotallyNotSena]

@@tallymark2417 The thing could literally turn into a metal kettle, so why not turn into a statue made out of rock? He could just break the damn thing. It was probably a test to see how the salesman would react, and after seeing his kindness he tried to repay him. Weird way tho, lmao

[@biomedcraze]

His hand was stuck so he couldn't pull his... (you know)...

[@elbowsbuns1896]

@@biomedcraze the tanuki had another hand to grab their balls

[@ind0266]

It seems like Tom nook is back to shenanigans again.

[@PatrickLofstrom]

Bells, balls, it's all the same to the Nook 🔔

[@ind0266]

@@kennethsoriano4895 awe thank you

[@calebmurray4438]

Oh Tom Nook, always flying with his thicc dump truck and pulling on his balls.

[@ind0266]

@@calebmurray4438 that’s where he strokes the bells you give him.

[@janaikean1028]

Ah yes, Nook the Crook

[@will__mem9rno]

"he heard story of shape shifting tanuki who transformed by puling on their t-" NOW HOLD ON A MINUTE!!!!

[@PatrickLofstrom]

IT'S A TRAP!

[@WeldonSirloin]

Very relatable tbh

[@ap4702]

@@WeldonSirloin relatable!?

[@HayTatsuko]

Hold on with BOTH PAWS or it ain't gonna work, yo!

[@will__mem9rno]

@@HayTatsuko you aren't speaking from experience...right?

[@llfn1718]

I always want to know what the animation process is like. The designs are so beautiful 😍

[@FrostyInUse]

Same

[@ultimatebishoujo29]

I know right?

[@anadraguleanu8710]

Me too.

[@Vagolololo]

Yes! I would love a behind the scenes of the animation studio. Although I presume that it is not just one.

[@guadalupeestrada410]

They have several guest animators I think. So look for them in the credits and search for them as needed and maybe one of them describes their process in their own channel or outside of KZbin

[@personone1382]

This is just one giant ancient wholesome meme. i am tanuki i get trapped salesman got my back i become kettle and salesman get money but i too hot and i squirm become tanuki i tell salesman and monke they laugh we frens

[@arielll1161]

i like

[@personone1382]

@@arielll1161 me work hard make poem ariel say like me happy 🧡🥺

[@priyanshmehta5668]

@@personone1382 me happy bcoz u happy We happy, all happy

[@personone1382]

@@priyanshmehta5668 happ! :D

[@eleanorrigby7897]

This made mii happ. T H A N N K ❤️🥺

[@tekuaniaakab2050]

Rocket Rackoon’s backstory is weirder than I expected

[@ultimatebishoujo29]

Lol

[@parkerhynson3581]

Actually, I think this is his cousin.

[@elofkjellson3906]

Rocket is a raccoon, not a raccoon dog. Lol

[@arandomhewo7966]

@@elofkjellson3906 no, he *was* a raccoon dog, he just transformed into a raccoon forever

[@irfanismailyowo8273]

#boycottmarvel sruperhero

[@SuperSongbird21]

According to one version of this story that I read, the tanuki reverted to his kettle form on the day he died and the monks kept the kettle as a relic in their temple in memory of him. Supposedly you can still see it today.

[@BambinaSaldana]

The specific tanuki is also a really good skateboarder.

[@dauny08]

that's temple is Gunma prefecture

[@Shghgdhjj]

​@@BambinaSaldana in that Google doodles yea

[@Comocutiepie]

That sounds so sad 😢

[@Comocutiepie]

​@@BambinaSaldana True

[@alejandrapedroza14]

I knew about the shapeshifter tanukis that trick people so I was like "noooo, salesman!" but it ended up being so sweet, the tanuki endured the polishing and the burning just to return the favor, that's so sweet!

[@EddVCR]

Growing up in Japan, I heard and read many stories of the mischievous but endearingly clumsy tanukis. I love them so much!

[@darkhound6461]

Ah that doremon episode, how nostalgic.

[@june756]

Yeaa .. My first thought was about doraemon

[@foreigner2982]

Prepare for upcoming birrage of likes.

[@sowmyaroysuroju651]

@@june756 same 😄

[@Manowar458]

What episode

[@shreyasp3287]

It's not a racoon it's a robot cat

[@mohamedlaqin]

2:06 The narrator bursts out there lol

[@faraz9641]

I think that's why those guys in the past were so afraid of doraemon...anyone?no?

[@hiruzenmonofuke7344]

Yes doreamon the raccoon. Shhhhhhhhhhh Is a cat robot.

[@srijanumesh5355]

Ahhh I remember that episode

[@june756]

Yaa now that's make sense

[@notathletic4171]

@@hiruzenmonofuke7344 curse you.

[@oishd6077]

@@srijanumesh5355 it's a shame that i don't remember which episode you are talking about even when i had 1/2 my childhood meals watching Doraemon 😳😭

[@wot_1505]

Doremon: I'm not a Raccoon I'm a cat robot

[@hiruzenmonofuke7344]

Doraemom owo

[@scuffedpixel]

Doraemon owo

[@srijanumesh5355]

Doraemon 0w0

[@artography4185]

Doraemon owo

[@june756]

DORAEMON 0w0

[@kristopherbruns7674]

Fun fact: Tanuki are a magical version of the real world animal the Jappanese Racoon dog , a canine that has fur similar to Racoon.

[@elofkjellson3906]

Actually, that is just the Japanese word for the animal. It is also the Japanese word for the common raccoon, which is why there is always so much confusion.

[@Chameleonradio]

@@popn6189 Really? I've only heard raccoons referred to as "Araiguma" instead. If you see Tanuki, it's pretty hard to mistake them for each other. Tanuki are much much rounder. I got to a see a few at a local zoo once--they even had an albino Tanuki. Pretty rad.

[@cinnamonxguy]

"Shape-shifting Tanuki who transformed by pulling on their testicles" Uhmm..💀💀

[@gumbitoicic9977]

Yeah...

[@kukothree]

It can also shape its giant testicles into boats targets, and etc. Sorry I just made it weirder... oops 😅

[@navedhasan4632]

@@kukothree you yourself are wierd

[@kukothree]

@@navedhasan4632 Thank you :)

[@HayTatsuko]

Not as painful as it sounds. Apparently every tanuki lad comes with the power of the Gum-Gum Fruit built right in!

[@MyMooha]

"For tales of a trickster you're less likely to want to cuddle-" _I absolutely want to cuddle Loki and he definitely needs a cuddle anyway_

[@mangomations]

Me too! 💚💚💚

[@theghostofuchiha1496]

I mean he's gonna fire Mistletoe at you... But okk

[@sarad2487]

*w h a t*

[@macdjord]

Bold of you to assume I don't want to cuddle Loki.

[@reetushree3129]

Its fascinating how TED Ed uses different kinds of animation for different videos. It's rarely the same

[@nadine.1105]

This is actually really sweet and wholesome!

[@Unicorn-dx8pw]

Ikr

[@veryberry39]

I love this narrator's voice. I'm always happy when I find she's narrating one.

[@ultimatebishoujo29]

Me too

[@freyavine6448]

I think some western authors who weren't familiar with tanuki would translate it as "badger". So if you're reading an old translation of a japanese folktale and it's about a badger, especially if it's a trickster or a shape-changing badger, it's probably actually a tanuki.

[@nabila_tanzim]

Amazing. I have heard the name Tanuki in The Google Doodle Champion Island Game for the very first time. How amazingly Google has made that doodle along with Studio 4°C! That's an amazing approach to let the non-Japanese people know about Japanese culture, appreciate it

[@johnny_boi5456]

Yep

[@harshvardhan4766]

actually most of the fiction is from Japanese culture those who watch doraemon can understand

[@saadtanzim9800]

@@harshvardhan4766 Umm. I have watched Doraemon(I still do), not all were from Japanese culture. Even I can even remember a Egyptian story (dividing the Neil river, story of Musa(PBUH)/Moses).

[@marianocolsin8968]

This remember me Pompoko (war of the Tanuki) from ghibli studios. A great movie they remind us that these incredible animals, mágica or not, are endangered because of the human activity

[@user-ne3kj4ys7i]

you can see "tanuki" apparing in many anime or japanese games. for example "Doraemon", "Mario(tanuki-mario)", "Animal crossing(Tom Nook)", "Demon-slayer(a main character imitates tanuki during the show)" or some Ghibli's movies.

[@june756]

Yess ..

[@belle2515]

fact: tanukis (not raccoons) have really big balls lmao

[@q-miiproductions878]

Their balls aren't even that big in real life.

[@allstarpterosaur850]

フルーツケーキ and tanukis are actually canines, more often called “raccoon dogs”.

[@_Sparky144]

@@allstarpterosaur850 fruitcakes? i am so confused lmao

[@HayTatsuko]

I love the animation style used in this, and getting to re-hear one of the nicest tanuki stories around. Fun fact: tanukis are canids whose closest living relatives are true foxes. They aren't closely related to raccoons.

[@StarBoundFables]

Tanuki are so awesome 😃 I have heard of them before Thank you, Ted-Ed, for reminding us of this magical creature 🙏🏽

[@Enuvrack]

I love stories about grateful spirits rewarding kind people. They're just as important as the ones about punishing cruel humans.

[@arcie3716]

The whole myth is such a beautiful story

[@ashenen2278]

And yes.... Tanukis aren't racoons, they're racoon dogs. Those are totally different animals

[@q-miiproductions878]

Hence why they say "raccoon-like creatures".

[@HayTatsuko]

Tanukis are most closely related to true foxes; they are canids, not procyonids. There is a relationship, but it's very, very distant. As a set of species, tanukis and other raccoon-dogs broke away from other canids about 9 million years ago. They've seen some things, and done some stuff, y'all. Yes, tanukis are even separate from continental raccoon-dogs, as they have different numbers of chromosomes than the others. The Japanese version is _Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus_ -- and it will almost certainly end up becoming a species of its own at some point, once the taxonomists get their ducks in a row.

[@ashenen2278]

@@HayTatsuko I'm totally aware of racoon dogs being closely related to true foxes.

[@ashenen2278]

@@HayTatsuko And yes, defining a species just for being in some degree genetically different or close is kind of not very plausible. The definition of species is not a simple one, at least to say. Dogs, for example, are considered to be the same species as wolves, but some would say they're different species. And yes, taxonomy is really not usable in modern systematics like phylogeny. Defining families and orders helps nothing

[@kamalindsey]

And yes, ackshully.

[@prize5ighter]

As a kid, I became aware of the racoon story while watching Doraemon 😂 Thank you Ted-Ed for reminding me of my childhood

[@waranontwiwaha9385]

Fun fact: Tanuki is actually not raccoon at all. It’s actually a type of dog relative called raccoon dog which only looks like a raccoon because it has mask on its face.

[@harryiguana1761]

I have to say all Ted-Ed animations are phenomenal

[@captainpalegg2860]

Nothing could have possibly prepared me for that opening quote.

[@user-yj4vt3qp4v]

英語は所々しか聞き取れないけど、アニメですぐに話が分かった！ このお話は分福茶釜（ぶんぷくちゃがま）という日本で古くから伝わるおとぎ話です。 日本ではタヌキやキツネが化けるお話がいっぱい伝わっています。 まさかこのお話を世界中の人が聞く時代が来るとはびっくりです。

[@saeyi8961]

The animations are always the main things I enjoy when watching these videos :D

[@pitalovr]

Tom Nook: the origin story

[@susangardini8161]

LOL

[@melissap5418]

I finally found this channel! I’ve searched for so long...

[@oishd6077]

Welcome to this amazing channel!

[@abthedragon4921]

Enjoy the amazing content

[@ineptireplica1548]

Leave while you still can before they trick you to LEARN

[@Elsisalittleconcerned]

Imagine you try to make some tea and a raccoon dog starts running around saying he wanted to pay you back but being roasted wasn’t part of the original plan.

[@hourscience]

I am impressed with the mythic videos due to their interesting stories.

[@omarsalem1219]

When your so used to greek mythology that a wholesome myth about a trickster animal that has a happy ending feels wrong to you

[@Meow_yj]

Animation is so beautiful !

[@camiloiribarren1450]

Very wholesome story and great ending. Thank you

[@huonghayley]

The animation is incredible, any frame makes a beautiful picture

[@midimusicforever]

Haha, Japanese Loki is really cool!

[@blink-oncefeat.multistan1300]

me: *reading the captoion* Also me: TONY TONY CHOPPER!!! 🤣

[@mryellow4633]

The Japanese tanuki, also known as a raccoon-dog and are not related to the western raccoon. Tanuki are in the canidae family along with foxes, wolves, coyotes, dogs.

[@axtapal2503]

We had this story in school, good to see it again :)

[@skyb994]

i just finished the whole playlist of myths by ted ed and i enjoyed it so much:D i thought it was only composed of greek mythology but i obviously was wrong. and i enjoyed all of the stories from different parts of the world. it made me fond of the thought of how different everything is yet, so similar. the story, the narration, the animation are just *chef's kiss*. it taught me a lot of things too. i'll always enjoy ted ed no matter what day or time it is. and when i get older, i'll try my best to support you through patreon xd. anyways, good job ted ed:D

[@riesenflugzeug]

2:15 WHAT

[@jessk7333]

I had a book about this. I like it!❤😊

[@starcloak]

Absolutely love the animation. Love Japanese folklore/myths. Keep up the good work ❤

[@gift4413]

WHEN IT SAID HOW THEY TRANSFORMED I NEARLY SPIT MY DRINK OUT ON MY SCREEN

[@WhoisSupernerd]

0:21 The neckline of both layer of his clothes should be 'y' shaped, called 右衽.

[@ayak2268]

I saw this video randomly. I was so surprised. This is the old tale of my area. I've been to 'Morin-Ji'

[@Sanee650]

This is soooooo cute such a beautiful wholesome story 🥺🥺

[@guangruixia]

Beautiful animation and amazing narration!

[@kharijordan6426]

Ok, this was wholesome. Going to the history of the East iv heard too many horrific true and fake stories... it's kinda refreshing to hear something as nice as this.

[@namelesssoul104]

As an anime lover, I was excited seeing this video on my recommendation..... i have heard about the tanuki folklores.....they have such folklores about foxes and tigers and obviously cats.

[@loliochinchin2158]

I don't know why but this scene looks cute 0:47

[@arniecalang4583]

Marvel Origins: Rocket Racoon

[@Reddception]

Tanuki: You want some Tea? Yeah Sure Tanuki: **Proceeds to put hand down pants**

[@nanami_akumudeadchannel7115]

“By pulling on its t-” *W-wait WHAT?!-*

[@Shreya.21714]

I love te-ed it is always so fun to learn with these beautiful animations

[@MC_lupin]

That quote at the beginning-

[@vaishnavaramjass]

Myth are so awesome there like old science. It shows how certain scientific phenomenons were explained by persons who were uneducated. They are culturally important. It shows us about our history and helps us understand ourselves.

[@thewhovianhippo7103]

i rember this from when i was younger and doremon it funny when you hear about a myth from your country well my mum's

[@kuronosan]

Will we as a society ever be able to move past calling tanuki raccoons?

[@turkeybeard2010]

I know right, they are actually a canine.

[@ultimatebishoujo29]

Not sure

[@nijinoshita3301]

that is the first time I see people call an actual canine not dog, while they usually call everything a dog... I am so confused

[@asterism343]

they transform by doing WHAT???

[@JulesColour]

Bethany's voice is so iconic in TED ed I wish she would read all my books to me, I would never get bored

[@TomatoSoup007]

This little guy is very cute! I like the drawing and animated style very much too

[@manavsaboo9610]

I love how these videos are short and can be watched without guilt :)

[@joryjones6808]

"Thor's annoying little brother who can't keep out of trouble." - script by Thor.

[@meenakshigupta5731]

The starting quote really baffled me......

[@kushagrasaxena601]

The Wonderful Tea Kettle...Here, In India I've read this story when I was in 4th standard, Subject- English. It's wonderful😊

[@LiquorWithJazz]

I saw one in the wild when I lived in Korea. Such cute little creatures.

[@pseudonymousgirl5452]

Wow the animations are totally superb,😊😊😊

[@Tsai_tama]

That half tanuki half tea kettle moment made me remember the kettle that ate the tanuki fruit on the long island.

[@AbdullahToorMystic]

Yet not of the 1 Tail beast

[@KK-bn9oe]

The title in Japanese is BUNBUKU CHAGAMA (分福茶釜). In Japanese old stories, Tanuki is usually a shape shifter and fox too.

[@violetbaudelaire9604]

Yes.... I am half Japanese and I know a lot of tales about shape shifting tanukis..... But this was better than any other!

[@TBT707]

Im sorry, when it pulled out the fan i was laughing XD

[@hiruzenmonofuke7344]

Plot twist: it was doraemon all along

[@june756]

But be prepared .. doraemon is gonna shout 'I AM A CAT ROBOT'

[@hiruzenmonofuke7344]

@@june756 yes

[@gauravyamohan2479]

The last time I was this early to a TED Ed video, the Tanuki was still a kettle

[@TheMakoyou]

It is "Bun-Buku-Cyagama"（分福茶釜) A story almost similar to this one was published in Japan in 1680 (one of a collection of short stories) It is called Kusa-zousi and is a general term for books for the entertainment of the common people. A variety of books were published, including cartoons, fairy tales, military stories, love stories and comedies. It seems that the common people used to borrow and read these books for about $5 per book in today's money. (About 50-70% of Japanese could read characters at that time)

[@004ask]

this story told as BunBuku-Chagama.chagama is tea kettle in japanese. But, bunbuku has some theory, for example, 分（separate ）福（happiness, or lucky） or sounds of boiling water. tanukis sometimes appear in Japanese fairy tales, however, foxes appear and shape-shift too. :-)

[@Mr_Jester980]

Ted Ed be like: Finally, after all this years... *_Loki_* *_The Snake Lady_* *_Finn McCool's Wife_* *_The Monkey King_* *_Tanuki_* I have them all.

[@Jobe-13]

What a nice story

[@dynamosaurusimperious6341]

Racoon sure are pretty smort,but they're not magical. Also what increible animation for this video.

[@matthewmann8969]

Those Raccoons could be as sneaky as Possums

[@elofkjellson3906]

Possums, or Opossums? They are completely different animals. And these aren't raccoons haha, they are Japanese raccoon dogs.

[@TJ-mm8fx]

This video was amazing but please do more videos on Irish myths, they do not get enough attention.

[@mikshinee87]

We do have tanukis (raccoon dogs) in our country as an invasive species. Quite cute if you ask me.

[@neotheone5559]

Ted ed: shares cool story Google: Let's put that in a game

[@jon3113]

Pull on what? That may make me shapeshift too, at least my voice. Lordy.

[@angrynoodletwentyfive6463]

to be clear it is the Racoon Dog that the myth is about, a species that isn't even in the same family as a true racoon which are native exclusively to North America and weren't a part of japanese culture until sometime around the 1970's.

[@amelienguyen253]

3:20 Hela, is that you?!

[@Tomatotor]

Love this serie it help me learn English ! From 🇫🇷

[@leonardoantonio216]

This is one of the most wholesome tales from the japanese myths ~Also 22 second gang~

[@ronzacharias5497]

please do more japanese folklore stories!

[@foureyes840]

From the story I grew up, the Tanuki actually have a family and they are starving because failed crops in the village and they can't steal food from the poor. So when he see the traveling merchant, the tanuki's wife turn into a human and the Tanuki turn himself into pot so she can sell it to the merchant for quick money and flee when the night come. The rest is more or less the same