Raccoon Dogs of Oku-Nikko
Raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides, specifically the Japanese raccoon dog, or the Ezo raccoon dog in Hokkaido) are familiar figures in folklore and legends. While they are animals that inhabit deep mountains and rural areas, they have also adapted to breed in urban environments and even live in Oku-Nikko, at elevations exceeding 1,200 meters.
Raccoon dogs are nocturnal, and opportunities to see them in Oku-Nikko are rare. Perhaps their population in Oku-Nikko is limited. Even when observing footprints left on the snow, most belong to deer, foxes, or martens, and there are few tracks that appear to be from raccoon dogs.
The Ezo raccoon dog of Hokkaido seems to store fat in preparation for the harsh winter and spends the freezing months with little activity, remaining inside burrows such as those dug by red foxes. They do not hibernate, so they may emerge from their dens on mild nights, and it is likely that the raccoon dogs of Oku-Nikko live in a similar way.
Raccoon dog fur is warm, and it was once so highly prized that it led to overhunting, as reflected in the saying 'counting the raccoon dog's skin before catching it.' Because they have denser underfur than other animals and many guard hairs that retain their insulating properties even when wet, they are likely well-equipped to withstand the cold of Oku-Nikko.
The raccoon dog I saw in Oku-Nikko had a glossy coat, and its small, deep-set eyes were shining. It must have lived a hardy life, eating whatever it could find, including the rich plants, fruits, insects, and earthworms of Oku-Nikko.
While I felt a sense of wildness in the eyes that looked at me, I also felt an affinity for its fluffy, short-legged physique and hoped to continue watching over it. After the raccoon dog left, I recorded the footprints I found near the spot where I saw it, and I found myself reflecting on the harshness of surviving in Oku-Nikko.
Strangely, while some regions call the raccoon dog 'mujina,' in other regions, the badger is called 'mujina'.
For example, in Hokkaido, if you say 'mujina,' it refers to a raccoon dog, because there are no badgers in Hokkaido. On the other hand, I have heard that in Nagano Prefecture, 'mujina' refers to a badger.
In Oku-Nikko, there is a place name called Mujinakubo, which is written on maps as '狸窪' (Raccoon Dog Hollow) with the reading 'mujinakubo.' It is a mysterious place name, but it is interesting to see that this region equates 'mujina' with 'raccoon dog.' Perhaps many raccoon dogs lived in Oku-Nikko. Maybe there was a hollow where raccoon dogs lived.
The word 'mujina' has a unique ring to it, and it makes one feel the presence of a mysterious creature. The image of the mujina is broad; there are actual rock caves and caverns in places like 'Matto Mujina' in Niigata Prefecture or 'Mujina no Gosho' in Yamagata Prefecture that are associated with legends, and folklore about them remains all over Japan. It is also interesting that they are depicted as supernatural beings that deceive humans, and 'Mujina' is included in 'Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things' by Lafcadio Hearn.
Furthermore, there is a folk tale that if a load of small fish left on a night road disappears, it is the work of a mujina (badger or raccoon dog). Judging by the agility of the animals, a marten, weasel, or fox would be a better fit than a mujina, yet it is attributed to the work of the mujina beast. 'Mujina' is passed down to people not just as a badger or raccoon dog, but with the implication of being a mysterious beast.
To Yume no tan!
Even if their body types are similar, the raccoon dog (raccoon dog) is in the Canidae family, and the badger (Japanese badger) is in the Mustelidae family, so they are different relatives.
A dog's front paw has four toes that touch the ground. In addition, there is one toe (the dewclaw) located further up.
The hind paw has four toes. (Depending on the breed, one dewclaw may be added.)
—Since you have a dog, you know this, right?
The raccoon dog, which is in the same family as the dog, has five toes on its front paws, but because the thumb does not touch the ground, the footprint shows four toes. The hind paw has four toes.
—It's the same as a dog, isn't it?
On the other hand, a badger's footprint shows five toes in a row. It is wider than that of a raccoon dog or fox, and the claws are long and sharp. They are skilled at digging soil and making long burrows.
The badger is a species endemic to Japan that lives in Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, and does not live in Hokkaido.