[michiko]

Jmmm... I am a Japanese... and Tanuki.... I think it is an interesting name... If you like it, I think that is all good!! I don't necessary think that all Japanese think the same about Tanuki, but Tanuki is definitely FAMOUS! in lovely tales that we have traditionally. Have you watched Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pompoko? It is a famous Japanese animation movie!! YOu may like the name more Tanuki has definitely an interesting character.... In the movie (tale), we say that Tanuki can transform to so many different things to fool humans!! It is very funny actually. We have the saying "be like a tanuki being bewitched by a man"

Originally Posted by Sukoshi's Mom

Thanks Cyndi!!! According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanuki), "Tanuki is the Japanese word for raccoon dog. They have been part of Japanese folklore since ancient times. The legendary tanuki is reputed to be mischievous and jolly, a master of disguise and shapeshifting, but somewhat gullible and absent-minded. Tanuki is often mistakenly translated as raccoon or badger."

I wanted another Japanese name so it kinda went with Sukoshi, and I first saw the Tanuki mentioned in a book titled 50 Things We Love About Japan, and I loved the description in the book, although the more I read about the Tanuki, the more hesitant I was to name her that because it's sorta a "drunken prankster" in Japanese folklore, commonly pictured carrying a bottle of sake in one hand and a promissory note in the other, with a large belly and testicles . Now...these things weren't necessarily things I wanted my Tanuki associated with , but it turns out there are lots of children's books starring the Tanuki (I've read a few, and they portray the Tanuki as a good thing), and the Wikipedia description really fits a Yorkie to a "T" (i.e. mischievous and jolly but gullible and absent-minded). So...after lots of research, we decided Tanuki was really the perfect name for our 2nd baby .

The Tanuki is actually a member of the dog family (http://www.americazoo.com/goto/index/mammals/251.htm), while people commonly mistake it for a raccoon, because of what it looks like. You can see from the pictures below that it would be easily mistaken!

I'm not going to be able to bring Tanuki to the June meet-up with me unless my hubby decides to go after all, since I can only fly one baby. I'll bring Sukoshi to this one since she's been around YT longer, and then maybe I can bring Tanuki to the next one (assuming there IS a "next one").

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