On Monday I posted
a commercial with some anatomically exaggerated animals because I though my readers would enjoy looking at a raccoon mascot with giant balls. Little did I know that this was just the tip of the raccoon balls iceberg. Apparently it was not a raccoon, it was a
Tanuki, a japanese raccoon dog that is often depicted with giant testicles as a symbol of financial luck.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGYScJl0BQxTf5dpcmtmQb3rqCtKl5daKxY8H74zZxXpZtfDVy2ugWP2Vk6hS7h5VAr87lVaLosIb5SffTCrROjtULjAf_Lu0aGvhb40TxcRDKYfG1KuJW7FYb5jEdKWZ2U2SzBDrbKk/s400/tanuki+raccoon+balls.jpg)
There's even a song that children sing about the Tanuki in schoolyards,
Tan Tan Tanuki no kintama wa,
Kaze mo nai no ni,
Bura bura
The Tan- Tan- Tanuki's testicles are,
Despite there being no wind blowing,
Swaying, swaying, swaying
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wlCvGBxiSZTNYsPCu9HlxoJxUTb-IsruiFTr5n2Qkwl5Ofyk8trySnCTfO-RsVNnYVBqJHFeGgS1jVatKQNbsmhBnacxPsTeWTME52MWBdMk2T01igCir2EMwsiBJY0FRiD36RtI_U4/s400/tanuki+testicles.jpg)
The comedy that flows from raccoon balls is endless, here's some woodblock prints from the 1830s.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GSGA1R9ann-5pv9SvvCmfpV_MWfaRod94XYpjKc9TdWuy99VgIBgvfvoB1fRkMCfBZWzXF6uwV4M3agZC5sMOAgJJWi7Fi-n1Q9749DPo2yPG9bnQzltpdrZJM4T7tchkpI9n_2iprc/s400/image017.jpg)
More picture after the jump
My mind was blown when I realized that Mario's flying suit is a raccoon dog. Thank god they omitted the balls.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafDawKZPYPnxSTnnXD_bC93-695scKD0bWh49V0N180Aw-o3DK1qd_nsbfO92QjZsIKw_f_5VWSbrB_9XVx66v1Z8Bl8TGSLylZ4s8IiDPBT8BWI2c1yniekWHmzSUkJSizfeY4-jG4w/s400/pompokoballs1.jpg)
If you want more raccoon balls, get
Pom Poko![](http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wtfjapanserio-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0009MAO3W)
it's a whole movie about an epic raccoon battle where they use their testicles as weapons. It's a pretty good watch, here's a notable clip.
Finally, some backstory.
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