Mischievous tanuki, Shapeshifting master of fun, Eyes gleam with mischief.
The Domesticated Tanuki, commonly known as the Einnohanan Tanuki or just tanuki, is a subbreed of the tanuki species developed for use as a pet. Although the domestication proccess has made them significantly easier to own and care for, much of their original personality remains. Greedy, lazy, loving, and empathetic pets, they have become a staple part of Eiennohanan society.
History
A bridge to the past, Tanuki, cultural thread, History preserved.
The Domesticated Tanuki, commonly known as the Einnohanan Tanuki, is a domestic subbreed of the original species native to Japan on Old Earth. Although often called Raccoon Dogs, they are in fact one of a now rare branch of canid family. Immortalized in Japan as tricksters and earth deities, they were chosen as one of the animals significant enough to Japanese culture to warrant inclusion in space colonization efforts.
With funding secured from the Japanese federal government in the 23rd century, the Estuary Conservation Group (ECG) began work on producing a domestic breed. Building upon the proncesses laid out by Soviet zoologist Dmitry Belyayev, the ECG began collecting hundreds of wild tanuki for their efforts. These were then split up into three groups:
- Class 4: Those that were hostile and fearful of human contact
- Class 3: Those that responded neutrally to being petted and handled
- Class 2: Those that enjoyed human handling and company
- Class 1: Those that were eager to establish human contact, and displayed overt signs of connection
By the 25th century the domestication process had successfully produced a large and healthy population of over 20,000. As with Belyayev's experiments, it was found that domestication caused hormonal changes in the tanuki. The dissapearance of the legendary tanuki odor was celebrated, while the widening of the skull and ears becoming floppy were considered undesirable. A selection of 100 breeding pairs, retaining the historical Japanese Tanuki appearance, were ultimately chosen for the Eiennohanan colonial expedition in XXXX AD.
Adaption to Eiennohana
Through sickness they teach, Tanuki's resilience shines, Strength in fragile form.
Originally seen as an affectation by the new nobility and elite of Eiennohana, the tanuki temporarily gained a poor reputation when it was found to be susceptible to native xeno-bacteria, and could transmit these sicknesses to humans. However, studies soon showed that the mortality rate was much higher in households without tanuki, while those with them suffered significantly milder symptoms. Royal decree protected the tanukis and worked to spread tanuki ownership as widely as possible. It did not take long before they had firmly established themselves as household pets alongside cats and dogs.
Today tanukis are a common sight, heads or rumps popping out of kotatsus or mewling for scraps in the kitchen. Owners often report their tanukis stalking them in their own yards, play pouncing when least expected and then running off chittering. Children are encouraged to sleep and cuddle with sick tanukis, who often return the favor once an illness has switched hosts. Because of this, the tanuki have come to represent empathy in Eiennohanan society, contrasting with loyalty of dogs and the independence of cats. Hospice care and children's hospitals often use tanuki in their imagery, and a mated pair is always kept by the royal family.
Bake-danuki
Raindrops on his fur, Yokai of luck and fortune, Nature's humor shines.
Bake-danuki are a kind of yokai found in the folklore and legends of historical Japan, commonly associated with tanuki and thought to have hidden among the domesticated breed on the trip to Eiennohana. Part of the larger yokai migration folk tradition, they are believed to speak with and disguise themselves as the Tanuki kept as pets. If a Tanuki, typically lazy and peaceful, becomes agitated and pesters their owner, it is commonly said that a Bake-danuki has come to warn the family of danger.
Bake-danuki are also seen as angry protectors of natural places and xeno-spirits, and often punish individuals who are too arrogant or callous. In cases where communities have humiliated troublemakers, a Bake-danuki paw print is stamped (or branded) on the victim's forehead to demonstrate divine justice. In recent years this punishment has grown popular within xenophobic communities, typically targetting immigrants to the planet like the refugees from Brahmaputra Prime.
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