The Tanuki in Japanese Popular Culture (Oversized Balls and All)

First-time visitors to Japan are often struck by the abundance of statues of the Tanuki (Japanese Raccoon Dog), which we featured recently on our sibling site, the Ark in Space.  Their first question when seeing these stout ceramic creatures for the first time is “What is that?” – and the second inevitable question is not about the straw hat, the sake bottle or the promissory note.  It is “Why does it have such big balls?”.  That’s a good (as well as obvious) question and, strangely enough, it has very little to do with fertility or masculinity.  Although that probably doesn’t hurt.

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Cover Your Eyes, Children! Here Comes Lange Wapper

If you happen to pass by the historic medieval fortress of Het Steen in Antwerp, Belgium the chances are very likely you will come across a statue.  A real double-take statue. Or even a triple-take statue.  However many times you eyes are drawn to it, this is one statue that demands your attention. Created in 1963 by Belgium sculptor Alber Poets, the sculpture represents a legendary figure in Flemish folklore, the crafty and mischievous giant called Long Whopper.  Sorry, Lange Wapper.  Dubious translations aside, he is certainly a big boy.