In the mid-1840s, ukiyo-e master Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) created a number of woodblock prints showing legendary tanuki (raccoon dogs) using their humorously large scrota in creative ways.

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
River fishing

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Shelter from evening showers

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Rokurokubi (long-necked monster) disguise

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Net fishing

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Making dashi (soup stock)

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Weightlifting

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Catfish mallet

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Coming and going

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Making mochi

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Visiting Konpira, the guardian deity of seafaring

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Boy's festival

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Cause of chronic abdominal pain

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Shichifukujin (the Seven Lucky Gods) disguise

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Fortune-telling tent

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Shop signs

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
River crossing

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Towboat

Tanuki print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi --
Seine fishing

See more of Kuniyoshi's tanuki images at Kuniyoshi Project .