In this thesis, I will explain how the tanuki can be seen as an example of a mythological “trickster” (a paradoxical figure who combines god-like powers with a chaotic nature and a love for...Show moreIn this thesis, I will explain how the tanuki can be seen as an example of a mythological “trickster” (a paradoxical figure who combines god-like powers with a chaotic nature and a love for deceiving and general trickery) and how these trickster tendencies function within different forms of Japanese popular imagination such as art and literature. In my research, I have identified three primary functions. First, the trickster’s shape-shifting tendencies and powers of illusion contribute to a sense of “uncannyness” and tie the tanuki to the mysterious and unknown. As such, “unexplainable” natural phenomena were often attributed to acts of this supernatural being. Secondly, the foolishness of the trickster figure makes it an excellent character for comedic and/or satirical works. The tanuki is no exception to this, as seen in folktales and Edo-era artwork. Lastly, the duality behind the trickster also makes him the perfect mediator between two polar opposites. The tanuki in particular has often been used to signify clashes between urban society and the countryside, as seen for example in the Studio Ghibli film Pompoko.Show less
