Tanuki live in forests, mountains and even on the edges of cities. They eat fruit, nuts, insects, frogs and pretty much whatever they can find. In autumn they fatten up so much that they look like furry little footballs. The extra fat helps them stay warm in winter.
Tanuki live in pairs and look after their babies together. The dad helps look after the pups, which is unusual in the animal world - in many species, the babies are raised only by the mum. Tanuki dads bring food back to the den and stand guard.
Unlike many wild dogs, tanuki can climb trees. They use their sharp claws to grip the bark, then sit in the branches eating berries. They are also strong swimmers. Some scientists call them the 'Swiss army knife' of wild dogs because they're good at so many different things.
Tanuki are a beloved character in Japanese stories - usually shown as friendly, a bit cheeky, and very fond of food. You can spot little stone statues of tanuki outside restaurants and shops all over Japan, often holding a paper umbrella. Many children grow up with cuddly tanuki toys.