Japanese culture - animals in culture and folklore

Good luck / bad luck animals are different in each countries. Today, I will introduce the Japanese consideration of animals in culture and folktales.

In Japanese folklores, Tanuki(Japanese racoon dog) and Kitune(fox) are masters of transformation.  Sometimes they consider they are tricky animals.  They turn into hummans and trick people using their magical power, but they always forget to hide their tails.  : )  On the other hand they consider good luck" animals, too. 

Tanuki is good luck for money and they decorate tanuki statues at their shop or house. A hat is for protection against trouble and problems, big eyes help to make good decisions, a sake bottle that represents virtue, a big tail is symbol of strength until success is achieved; over-sized thingie(?) that symbolize financial luck.

Kitsune is associated with Inari(Shinto) - Japanese god of agriculture, rice, fertility and industry.

Usually you can see kitsune at Inari Jinja(Inari shrine) -the entrance of Inari shrine is usually marked by one or more vermilion torii and some statues of kitsune .  Inari-zushi, a Japanese sushi roll of packaged fried tofu, is popular offering in Inari Jinja.  Fried tofu is believed to be a favorite food of Japanese foxes.

There are many animals symbolized as good luck, but these are

especially the ones my mother taught to me.

Fukurou(Owl):  Learning/Study/knowledge god.

Also it compares "ふくろう”(fukuro in hiragana) to "不苦労"(this is not correct kanji of fukurou, but this Kanji means no trouble and difficulty) and avoids many troubles in life.

Tsuru and Kame(Crane and Turtle):  Tsuru is for good luck and Kame is for a long life. Tsuru and Kame is often used in Kakejiku(Japanese scrolls).

Usagi(Rabbit):  I will explain about usagi and Japanese culture around Jyugoya time(Sep).  Japanese loves usagi motief.

One of the reason, usagi  is good luck is because they hop and it means raise up your luck.

Kaeru(Frog):   In Japanese, frog is called " kaeru" which is the same pronounciation of  "kaeru(帰る）-return, come back” so they believe as "money returns or somebody comes back safely."

Tonbo(Dragonfly):  Tonbo flies only forward.  Because of it, samurai liked this motief.  When they fought, they needed just go forward not withdraw.

Japanese also like Tonbo motief.

They use tonbo motief noren (hanging door curtain) in fall time.

Hebi(Snake):  Especially the white snake is the symbol of god of money.

Nezumi(Mouse):   Nezumi is an errand of Daikoku(one of the seven-gods) and is believed to give good fortune.  Nezumi often used large straw bags of money or food.

Neko(Cat):  Everybody knows beckoning cat.    To western people it may seem as cat is waving instead of beckoning, but this is the way of Japanese body language of "come here". 

I remember when I called my mother in law from the inside of the store with  this gesture, she waved me back, so I had to go out the store and get her. : )