Once upon a time there were large numbers of tanuki living near the Senba Bridge..

A tanuki is a japanese animal that looks something like a cross between a fox and a raccoon.

The dictionary translation is often "raccoon dog".There are a large number of statues of tanukis to be seen here.

Here is a typical one of a tanuki which is often portrayed with a large stomach and is also very well endowed in the nether regions.

Oh...the tanuki is the one on the left...I am the one standing on the red pillar box!!!!