The (The Tanuki War of Awa) is a Japanese legend about a great war between bake-danuki (magical tanuki) that supposedly occurred in the late Edo period in Awa Province (now Tokushima Prefecture). It is also known as the and the (The Kinchō Tanuki War).
It is one of the most famous tanuki legends among the many found in Shikoku, and often considered the most renowned tanuki story from Tokushima. The story is believed to have originated in the late Edo period. Literary records exist in three handwritten manuscripts from the late Edo period: (Chikagoro Furudanuki Chinsetsu), (Furudanuki Kinchō Giyū Chinsetsu), and (Kinchō Isshōki), though their exact dates are unknown. The legend gained widespread circulation through kōdan (narrative storytelling) transcriptions published in Meiji 43 (1910): (Shikoku Kidan Jissetsu Furudanuki Gassen), (Tsudaura Dai-kessen), and (Higaino Tomurai Gassen). Popularized through kōdan from the Meiji era until the wartime period and later through films in the early Shōwa period, the legend has become a theme for community development (machizukuri) in Tokushima Prefecture since the Heisei era and remains beloved by its residents.
Legend Based on the traditions of Kinchō Jinja (detailed below) and the book Awa no Tanuki no Hanashi by Tokushima-born archaeologist Kasai Shin'ya, the legend can be summarized as follows:
During the Tenpō era (1830–1844), in Higaino, Komatsushima (now Kandaise-chō, Komatsushima City), a man named Moemon (), who ran a dyeing shop called Yamatoya (), saved a tanuki from being tormented by people. Soon after, Yamatoya's business began to prosper greatly. Eventually, a tanuki possessed Mankichi (), an employee at the shop, and revealed its identity. The tanuki called himself Kinchō (), the 206-year-old leader of the local tanuki. Possessing Mankichi, Kinchō became renowned for healing the sick and performing divination for customers, achieving great fame.
Some time later, Kinchō, who had not yet attained a formal rank among tanuki, decided to seek training under Rokuemon (), the tanuki generalissimo residing in Tsuda (then Tsudaura, Saitsu Village, Myōdō District, now Tsuda-chō, Tokushima City). Kinchō excelled in his training and was on the verge of attaining the coveted rank of Senior First Rank (, Shōichii). Rokuemon, reluctant to lose such a promising pupil, attempted to keep Kinchō by his side by arranging a marriage with his daughter, making Kinchō his son-in-law and heir. However, Kinchō refused, citing his obligation to Moemon and his dislike for Rokuemon's cruel nature.
Angered by the refusal and fearing Kinchō would become a future rival, Rokuemon plotted against him. Along with his retainers, Rokuemon launched a surprise night attack on Kinchō. Kinchō fought back, aided by another tanuki from Higaino named Fuji no Kidera no Taka (, "Hawk of Fuji-no-ki Temple"). However, Taka was killed in the battle, and Kinchō barely managed to escape back to Higaino.
Moemon, grieving that Kinchō had died just before achieving the Senior First Rank, personally traveled to the Yoshida Shinto Ritualists (, Yoshida Jingi Kanryōsho) in Kyoto and successfully petitioned for Kinchō to be posthumously awarded the rank.
During the time of the conflict, rumors spread among humans that Kinchō's army was gathering in the sacred forest (, Chinju no mori) preparing to attack Rokuemon. When curious onlookers visited the forest at dusk, they heard a great clamor as if many beings were jostling together in the darkness. The next morning, countless tanuki footprints covered the ground, convincing people that the tales of the tanuki war were indeed true.
Variations
The legend exists in several variations across different sources, possibly due to the influence of later kōdan narratives on the original oral traditions. Rokuemon's Daughter: Rokuemon's daughter is named Koyasuhime (). Deeply in love with Kinchō, she pleaded with her father not to attack him. When her pleas failed, she committed suicide to protest her father's actions and express her guilt. However, her death only fueled Rokuemon's hatred for Kinchō. Upon learning of the death of Koyasu, who had loved him, Kinchō's resolve to defeat Rokuemon hardened. Scale of the Battle: The main battle occurred across the Katsuura River, with Kinchō's army numbering over 600 tanuki and Rokuemon's also exceeding 600. The fierce fighting lasted for three days and three nights. Other Participants: Shibaemon-tanuki, a famous bake-danuki from Awaji Island, is said to have headed towards Awa to join the battle. (One tale relates that Shibaemon stopped at Kannō-ji temple in Nikenya disguised as a samurai to watch a play, but was bitten by a dog and killed, his corpse remaining in samurai form for three days. This episode likely borrows from a similar story associated with Shibaemon at the Naka-za theater in Osaka.) Kinchō's Death: One version states that despite suffering fatal wounds, Kinchō desperately made his way back to Higaino to express his gratitude to Moemon one last time before dying. Moved by Kinchō's loyalty, Moemon enshrined him as a Daimyōjin (Great Luminous Deity). Kinchō's Spirit: Another variation claims that the dying Kinchō became a spirit, possessed Mankichi, and vowed to eternally protect Moemon's household as a deity out of gratitude even after death. Deeply moved, Moemon enshrined him as a Daimyōjin. Aftermath: After the deaths of Kinchō and Rokuemon, a second conflict, a "mourning war" (, tomurai gassen), erupted between Kinchō's successor (often considered his son or the second Kinchō) and Rokuemon's son. However, the great bake-danuki Tasaburō-tanuki (also known as Yashima no Hage) from Yashima in Sanuki Province (now Yashima, Takamatsu, Kagawa) intervened and mediated, finally bringing the conflict to an end.
Origins One theory suggests the legend originated from an existing local tale of animal gratitude (, dōbutsu hōontan) from the Tenpō era, where a tanuki saved by the Yamatoya shop owner repaid the kindness. Later, the factual event of a large number of tanuki carcasses being found on the banks of the Katsuura River one year was incorporated. These elements were then supposedly combined and dramatized, possibly in the style of kōdan, into the story of a great clash between the two tanuki powers, Kinchō and Rokuemon.
Alternatively, some interpret the story as an allegory for human conflicts. The struggles, tragic love, and rivalries depicted are common in human society, suggesting the tanuki war might be a projection of real-world human events onto animal characters.
Specific historical conflicts have been proposed as models: Shugendō Conflict: Disputes existed between different sects of Shugendō practitioners based on Tokushima's sacred mountains. The manuscript Furudanuki Kinchō Giyū Chinsetsu mentions rock-throwing (, tōseki), a combat tactic used since the Middle Ages. This leads to the theory that the tanuki war represents a conflict between Shugendō groups associated with Tairyū-ji temple (represented by Kinchō) and Mount Tsurugi (represented by Rokuemon). This could reflect a clash between a Tairyū-ji-based group attempting to expand north and a Mount Tsurugi-based group moving south. Aizome Sand Dispute: Tokushima Prefecture was a center for aizome (Japanese indigo dyeing), a process requiring sand. Sand from the Tsudaura area was considered ideal. This theory posits the tanuki war symbolizes a conflict over access to these valuable sand resources between communities on opposite sides of the Katsuura River. Fishing Rights Dispute: Another theory suggests the legend is based on disputes over fishing rights between the Tsuda district and Komatsushima. Asakawa Yasutaka, the head priest of Tsuda-ji Temple (home to Rokuemon-related sites), supports this fishing rights theory.
If these theories based on human conflicts are correct, the somewhat endearing tanuki characters might actually be reflections of foolish human behavior.
While the veracity of the tanuki war itself is legendary, Moemon is confirmed to have been a real person. The 1939 film was based on both the kōdan transcriptions and oral accounts passed down within the family of Moemon's direct descendants. Furthermore, some suggest that the incident of the tanuki possessing Mankichi was a real, separate event, later woven into the tanuki war narrative by kōdan storytellers.
Related Lore According to tradition in Tokushima Prefecture, during the era of the Tokushima Domain, a toki no taiko (time-keeping drum) was used to announce the hour. However, in the Tomita Ōmichi area of the castle town (now Ōmichi, Tokushima City), the drum was never struck at the Hour of the Serpent (around 10 AM, corresponding to "four" in older counting), and in the Teramachi area, it was never struck at the Hour of the Monkey (around 4 PM, corresponding to "six"). This was supposedly because Kinchō's successor (the second Kinchō) was enshrined as "O-Yotsu-san" ("Mr./Ms. Four") at a subsidiary shrine of the Konpira Shrine in Tomita Ōmichi, and a female tanuki connected to the war was enshrined as "O-Roku-san" ("Mr./Ms. Six") at Myōchō-ji Temple in Teramachi. It was believed that striking the drum at the hour corresponding to their names would invoke a curse. An alternative explanation for the silence at the sixth hour in Teramachi is that Rokuemon's successor (the second Rokuemon) was enshrined there.
Historical Sites and Landmarks
Kinchō Jinja
In May 1939 (Shōwa 14), following the massive success of the film , Kinchō Jinja Shrine (later known as Kinchō Jinja Hongū - the original shrine) was established in the mountains of Mount Himi (, Himine-san) as an expression of gratitude. The annual "Kinchō Rei Taisai" (Kinchō Grand Festival) began at the shrine in 1946 (Shōwa 21), and in 1955 (Shōwa 30), the "Kinchō Hōsankai" (Kinchō Reverence Association) was formed to organize the yearly festival honoring Kinchō.
In 1956 (Shōwa 31), Komatsushima City, seeking to honor Kinchō's virtue of profound gratitude and loyalty (, hōon kansha) and to develop him as a tourism resource, requested the relocation of the Kinchō Daimyōjin shrine, which until then had been a private household shrine (, yashikigami) in the garden of Moemon's descendants, the Umeyama family. The shrine was moved to Nakata-chō within the city, and the new Kinchō Jinja was formally established the following year, 1957 (Shōwa 32). Nagata Masaichi, who had been the studio head at Shinkō Kinema during the production of the 1939 film and was president of Daiei Film at the time of the shrine's construction, regarded Kinchō as the savior who rescued the nearly bankrupt Shinkō Kinema. He donated a then-staggering one million yen, which covered most of the construction costs. The names of Nagata, as well as popular actors like Ramon Mitsusaburō, Kazuo Hasegawa, and Machiko Kyō, are inscribed on the shrine's ornamental fence (, tamagaki).
Kinchō Daimyōjin is revered as the "Hōtoku Tanuki" (, Gratitude-Repaying Tanuki) for his loyalty to Moemon, and is also known as a god of good fortune and protection (, kaiun shugo). He is particularly believed to grant blessings for business prosperity. It is one of the most representative tanuki shrines in Tokushima. Locals often refer to him affectionately as "Kinchō-san," interacting with him with a familiarity distinct from typical deities. The shrine appears in the Studio Ghibli animated film Pom Poko. Reflecting Kinchō's protection of the Yamatoya, descendants of Moemon have served as the shrine's priests (, gūji) since its establishment. As of 2014, the priest was the 6th generation descendant from Moemon.