noun
tanuki belly-drumming; sound of tanuki drumming on their bellies
Folkloric term for the imagined sound of tanuki (raccoon dogs) drumming on their stomachs, often heard at night in rural areas. Sometimes used to refer to mysterious nighttime sounds whose source is unclear.
夜中に狸囃子が聞こえてきた。
In the middle of the night, we heard the sound of tanuki drumming.
Standard kanji spelling for the folkloric term.
Kana spelling is common in explanatory or casual contexts.
Compound of 狸 (tanuki, 'raccoon dog') and 囃子 (hayashi, 'musical accompaniment'), referring to the folk belief that tanuki drum on their bellies.