Tanuki Mug
This mug depicts Tanuki, the Japanese God of Restauranters. Tanuki is holding a bottle of sake in his right hand and a promissory note for the sake in the other. He has a big fat belly, large testicles, and is wearing a straw hat. Tanuki has the power of transformation which it uses to play tricks on people. It also loves sake, which is why it has a bottle of sake in one hand.
There is an small hole in front of this mug for a straw and a large hole in the back for adding a beverage. Inscribed on the bottom is “Japan”.
Similar items in my collections include the Benihana Tanuki Mug.
Found in the Mug and Orientalia Collections.