Incense Box (kōgō)

The tanuki, or badger, has been an animal familiar to the Japanese since ancient times. Much like the fox, the tanuki is believed to have supernatural power and the capacity to shape-shift, and thus frequently appears in Japanese folklore. It is often depicted as comical, mischievous and somewhat absentminded. Because of its natural round form, it is usually shown with a potbelly, as seen here.