The Japanese name for the raccoon-dog, Nyctereuctes procyonoides. In folklore the animal is credited with supernatural powers, including shapeshifting, money counterfeiting, and most notably of expanding its already very large scrotum to use as a drum or a weapon. Tanuki statues are a popular part of Japanese kitsch, portraying a jolly, plump little anthropomorphization of the creature, usually with a straw hat, a bottle of sake, a purse of bills for his carousing, and of course his big wrinkly testicles dragging on the ground between his feet.
The Studio Ghibli feature Pompoko was never properly imported to the United States due to its copious and unabashed supply of tanuki balls.
by tengu shoes November 8, 2004
Definition 1. Noun. A small, raccoon-like animal native to Japan.
Definition 2. Descriptor. To be so bold and reckless that you are often running into things that will certainly lead to death.
Definition 2. Descriptor. To be so bold and reckless that you are often running into things that will certainly lead to death.
Playing The Hunter Primal:
Guy 1: the primal T-rex!
Guy 2: I have a bow and 13 arrows; I will kill it
Guy 1: that's it Tanuki
Guy 1: the primal T-rex!
Guy 2: I have a bow and 13 arrows; I will kill it
Guy 1: that's it Tanuki
by Yuu-no-hu February 19, 2016
The act of pulling a person's scrotum over their head. Similar to the classic atomic wedgie, but using the receivers scrotum.
by PrincessTinkles December 31, 2016
I think that's the correct spelling. Let me check.... Yep. That's right. What's a Tanuki? It's a RACOON DOG.
Hym "That's a thing I knew! Tanuki are racoon dogs. There is actually a Japanese legend about a tanuki named Danzaburou. Look it up. Most of the legends revolve around his TRICKERY of humans. Get it? And now they are saying covid came from tanuki? Get it? Somebody thinks they are clever."
by Hym Iam March 23, 2023