First the cats … now the Tanuki take over

Last week I confessed my tiny, harmless, definitely‑not‑a‑problem addiction to buying cat-themed things in Japan.
Admitting it is the first step, right?

So this week, while feeling very proud of myself for not having purchased any new cat items, mostly because I’m not even in Japan anymore, I decided to be productive and organize my photo files. And that’s when this popped up.

Every country has its own version of “things you casually stumble upon that make you question whether you’re still on the same planet.” In Japan? That thing is the tanuki.

There I was, scrolling through my pictures, and suddenly I’m transported right back to the moment I turned down a quiet backstreet and came face-to-face with an entire squadron of these round‑bellied, big‑smiled ceramic creatures.

Not one. Not two. But a full tanuki battalion, lined up as if waiting for inspection. And the best part? They look so proud to be there.

For anyone who hasn’t met these guys yet, tanuki statues are basically the friendly trickster mascots of Japan. You’ll see them outside shops, restaurants, and sometimes, apparently, in front of someone’s house, guarding the neighborhood with their irresistible chaos energy.

They each come with their own little personality: a straw hat perched jauntily on top, a sake bottle tucked under one arm, a money pouch under the other, and an expression that somehow says both “welcome!” and “I might mess with you just a little.” Honestly, I respect the vibe.

Looking at this photo again stirred up all my old questions. Who lined them up with this level of commitment? Is there a designated leader of this crew? (I’m still convinced it’s the one by the pole, he has unmistakable Chief Tanuki Energy.)

But more than anything, it reminded me of one of my favorite things about Japan: the delightful randomness that sneaks up on you during an ordinary day, turning a simple walk, or a simple photo clean-up, into a tiny, unexpected mood booster.

Here’s to surprises in old camera rolls, ceramic chaos gremlins, and the everyday magic tucked into memories.