Tanuki – scrotum-gifted racoon dogs of Japan

Tanuki with typically enlarged scrotum, in a print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

The other day I had a conversation with my friend about Tanuki – incredible characters in Japanese folklore.
Thought you’d be interested as well. Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia.

Tanuki (狸 or タヌキ) is the common Japanese name for the Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus). They have been part of Japanese folklore since ancient times. The legendary tanuki is reputed to be mischievous and jolly, a master of disguise and shapeshifting, but somewhat gullible and absent-minded.

Statues of tanuki can be found outside many Japanese temples and restaurants, especially noodle shops. These statues often wear big, cone-shaped hats and carry bottles of sake in one hand, and a promissory note or empty purse in the other hand. Tanuki statues always have large bellies. The statues also usually show humorously large testicles, typically hanging down to the floor or ground, although this feature is sometimes omitted in contemporary sculpture.

Learn more about Tanuki on Wikipedia or watch Pom Poko by Miyazaki.

March 2010

Carl Sagan – Pale Blue Dot

November 2009

Jelly-like animals of the Arctic depths

See the rest on BBC News

September 2009

NASA captures atmospheric shock-wave during an eruption

A fortuitous orbit of the International Space Station allowed the astronauts this striking view of Sarychev Volcano (Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan) in an early stage of eruption on June 12, 2009.

…

This detailed astronaut photograph is exciting to volcanologists because it captures several phenomena that occur during the earliest stages of an explosive volcanic eruption. The main column is one of a series of plumes that rose above Matua Island on June 12. The plume appears to be a combination of brown ash and white steam. The vigorously rising plume gives the steam a bubble-like appearance. The eruption cleared a circle in the cloud deck. The clearing may result from the shockwave from the eruption or from sinking air around the eruption plume: as the plume rises, air flows down around the sides like water flowing off the back of a surfacing dolphin. As air sinks, it tends to warm and expand; clouds in the air evaporate.

Via Nasa Earth Observatory

June 2009

Biomimicry and zero-carbon building

A brilliant zero-carbon building proposal that could potentially generate income and rejuvenate a former landfill site.

June 2009