Raccoons (2004-11-14)
I have come to notice that raccoons (tanuki) are used in some advertisement and posters here. I have also spotted raccoon ceramic models and statues in gardens. You can even order tanuki udon in noodle restaurants. These are just udon noodles in Japanese stock topped with deep-fried tofu sheets and chopped green onions.
Since the word "tanuki" sounds like "ta no nuki" in Japanese which means "to win out others ( rival shops)", some shop owners like to place a raccoon statue at the store entrance for its auspicious connotation. I tried to google the history of raccoons in Japan without success. But anyhow the raccoons on posters, like other cartoon characters, are made into humorous figures and they are fun to look at.
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