Shigaraki ware is one of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns, known for its rich ceramic heritage. The iconic tanuki (raccoon dog) figures made from Shigaraki clay are beloved as lucky charms for prosperity in business, often placed at shop entrances. The name tanuki also plays on the phrase “ta ni nukinderu,” meaning “to stand out from the rest.” Each part of the figure carries symbolic meaning—together representing the auspicious concept of hassō engi, or “eight lucky traits.”
