<p>The racoons in this film aren't the usual ones the West would know of. They are in fact <em>Tanuki</em> and are better know as <em>Racoon Dogs</em> in English.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/bElm4m.jpg" alt="Nyctereutes_procyonoides"></p>

<p>Still, you can see from the picture above that they aren't as heavily endowed as the ones in the Ghibli film. This is because the film takes the concept from Japanese folklore.</p>

<p>In Japanese folklore, the Tanuki are shape-shifters, much like the <em>kitsune</em> fox. They're generally tricksters, but they have positive connotations in Japan despite their fearsome nature in older times. The humongous scrotum only came about in the Edo period in Ukiyo-e drawings - the precursor to several other drawn art forms, and eventually, to manga.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/R1KKSm.jpg" alt="enter image description here">
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ZwbuBm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>Some drawings of tanuki flyfishing and pulling a ballsack-boat to shore.</p>

<p>I recommend reading <a href="http://www.tofugu.com/2015/01/30/tanuki-the-magical-canine-with-gigantic-magic-tanuki-balls/" rel="noreferrer">Tofugu's article on tanuki</a> if you want to learn more about these creatures.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-10T01:38:50.387Z
I knew about the folklore tanuki, but not about the existence of real raccoon dogs. I had always thought the tanuki were mythological creatures based on raccoons.
trlkly
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-09T20:52:23.730Z
2015-03-10T00:59:52.237Z
2015-03-10T00:59:52.237Z
Toshinou Kyouko
<p>I was surprised when I saw, watching PomPoko with my family, that the characters had really, REALLY large <em>ahem</em> ... well see for yourself:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/aEf7z.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>I mean, that can't be natural can it? I'm pretty sure last time I saw a racoon it didn't have that part so huge. </p>

<p>Is it perhaps some other body part? You can see their tails in the below picture as they use the flesh for parachutes, so I'm sure it's not that. It <strong>does</strong> seem to be coming from their nether regions though.</p>

<p>What is up with these racoons?</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jmtmVm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<pom-poko>
Why do the racoons in pompoko have such large genitalia?
# Why do the racoons in pompoko have such large genitalia?
Posted by: username_0 on 2015-03-09
I was surprised when I saw, watching PomPoko with my family, that the characters had really, REALLY large *ahem* ... well see for yourself:

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/aEf7z.jpg)

I mean, that can't be natural can it? I'm pretty sure last time I saw a racoon it didn't have that part so huge.

Is it perhaps some other body part? You can see their tails in the below picture as they use the flesh for parachutes, so I'm sure it's not that. It **does** seem to be coming from their nether regions though.

What is up with these racoons?

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/jmtmVm.jpg)
**Tags:** pom-poko
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## 1 answers
### Answer by username_0 on 2015-03-09. Score: 21 | Accepted answer
The racoons in this film aren't the usual ones the West would know of. They are in fact *Tanuki* and are better know as *Racoon Dogs* in English.

![Nyctereutes_procyonoides](https://i.sstatic.net/bElm4m.jpg)

Still, you can see from the picture above that they aren't as heavily endowed as the ones in the Ghibli film. This is because the film takes the concept from Japanese folklore.

In Japanese folklore, the Tanuki are shape-shifters, much like the *kitsune* fox. They're generally tricksters, but they have positive connotations in Japan despite their fearsome nature in older times. The humongous scrotum only came about in the Edo period in Ukiyo-e drawings - the precursor to several other drawn art forms, and eventually, to manga.

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/R1KKSm.jpg)
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ZwbuBm.jpg)

Some drawings of tanuki flyfishing and pulling a ballsack-boat to shore.

I recommend reading [Tofugu's article on tanuki](http://www.tofugu.com/2015/01/30/tanuki-the-magical-canine-with-gigantic-magic-tanuki-balls/) if you want to learn more about these creatures.
> **Comments:**
> **username_1** (2015-03-10): I knew about the folklore tanuki, but not about the existence of real raccoon dogs. I had always thought the tanuki were mythological creatures based on raccoons.  
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