A Tanuki, the Japanese raccoon dog, is the cute animal of this Internet moment
The tanuki, a Japanese species sometimes called a "raccoon dog," is perhaps best known in the West — if it's known at all — for appearing in a classic Mario game and being a trickster god with giant testicles (there's an entire Tom Robbins novel based on this legend). But, as the internet is finding out today, tanuki are real, and they're spectacularly cute.
Photos of a tanuki named Tanu playing in the snow have been making the rounds since Tanu's owner, @chibi_tori, posted them early this morning. After a write-up on BuzzFeed, tanuki made the list of trending topics, and now the whole world is mad for the cute raccoon-thing with the giant balls.
And why not? Look at him.
前回と展開が同じなので写真の説明は省略です。私が寝る時、以前のタヌキは顔側から布団に入って来ても、布団から出たり入ったりしながらお腹のあたりで落ちつく感じでしたが、朝には必ず別の場所へ移動していました。 pic.twitter.com/6wZUQWCsXy
— ことり (@chibi_tori) January 27, 2016
Look.
At.
夏に比べるともこもこがたっぷりしてきました。冬を乗り切るためにはまだまだ増えます❗ホンドタヌキのポンちゃん🐾 pic.twitter.com/ZZ3N5b9LMI
— 須坂市動物園【公式】 (@suzakazoo) October 27, 2015
Him.
タヌキが歩く時、注意を向ける以外はほぼタヌ背。マズルを70°位の角度で下げ床を舐めるように大きな鼻息を吐きながら歩きます。その為か、私の感覚だけの事ですが、犬より下顎が薄く眼球を上に向ける事が出来る様な気がします。 pic.twitter.com/Nc13cYzPwH
— ことり (@chibi_tori) January 28, 2016
Although wildlife experts don't recommend keeping tanuki as pets — as they've moved into urban areas and started eating cats' food, they've also picked up an unfortunate outbreak of mange — Tanu seems to be a rare success story.
@chibi_tori tells BuzzFeed he found Tanu abandoned last June and has been raising him as a pet. During the winter, the little guy mainly just wants to sleep inside next to a warm stove.
Nice, nice.
See more of the adorable tanuki:
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