柴右衛門狸 · tanuki · Awaji

Shibaemon-tanuki

The Shibaemon-tanuki of Awaji is renowned for its humorous and benevolent pranks. Said to have a soft spot for helping those in need, this tanuki embodies the duality of mischief and kindness, often saving villagers from calamity through deceptive means.

Legend

One story recounts how it stole a golden mallet from a merchant but used it to help the impoverished townsfolk, indicating the tanuki’s complexity in moral tales.