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One of the cutest things I saw on my trip to Japan was a Tanuki. What on earth is a Tanuki?

Haha! I had to ask the same question myself when I saw my first Tanuki outside a Japanese restaurant in Hakone.

This just looked too darn cute to be true but according to Wikepedia the Japanese Tanuki or raccoon dog is a REAL SPECIES.

I still didn’t believe the Tanuki WAS a real animal…

until I saw it on YouTube – haha!

 

According to Japanese folklore, the fox-like Tanuki began as shape-shifters with supernatural powers that assumed human form, haunted and possessed people, and were considered omens of misfortune! Today Tanuki have evolved into cheerful, lovable, rogues who bring prosperity and business success! So the story goes…

Then I started seeing Tanuki EVERYWHERE!

I found this cute tanuki print fabric in Nippori, Tokyo…

I spotted tanuki on signs…

even famous celebrities it seems, like to dress up as Tanuki…

Check out this Mario Tanuki!

and HOW CUTE is this Hello Kitty in a tanuki suit? : )

I started to realise that in Japan… Tanuki are really BIG!!!! Haha!

 

 

Which got me thinking…

What a cute soft toy a Tanuki would be to design!!!!! 🙂

So I started to do a bit of research, starting with a google search, found this cute tanuki necklace from Ann Marie Chua Lee on Etsy…

I spotted this cute phone cover on Amazon –

…if I had a Blackberry I would have bought it – haha!

I found these adorable tanuki undies too!!!!

Tanuki really are EVERYWEAR oops EVERYWHERE – hee hee!

Ooooooh, NOW the fun bit starts – playing with my FABRIC!!!! I wonder how my own Tanuki Soft toy design is going to turn out?

 

Wish me luck! Hope you’ll LOVE it???

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Till next time…

Happy Sewing,

Pauline

xxx