The Awa Tanuki War Legend

The Awa Tanuki War Legend is a representative tanuki tale from Shikoku, recounting a conflict between Kinchō, a tanuki adopted by a dyer, and Rokuemon, a rival tanuki master. Raised by the dyer and moved by gratitude, Kinchō became Rokuemon's apprentice to refine his martial skill. As Kinchō grew stronger, Rokuemon, fearing him, sought to destroy him by using a marriage proposal as a pretext. The breach between them led to a large-scale war in which both tanuki perished. Kinchō was subsequently deified as Kinchō Myōjin, granted the rank of Senior First Court Rank (Shōichii), and is said to have protected the dyer's prosperity thereafter.

The narrative is structured in three movements: the meeting and obligation between the dyer and Kinchō; apprenticeship and discord with Rokuemon; and the war, death of both tanuki, and their deification. The tale exemplifies early modern period kaii (strange phenomena) narratives, layering transformation mythology with themes of loyalty and gratitude. Kinchō is celebrated alongside Sado's Danzaburō and Shikoku's Tazaburō as emblematic figures in Shikoku's distinctive tanuki tradition.

The shrine associated with the legend is Kinchō Shrine, located in Nakada, Komatsushima, Tokushima, near the site of the dyer-merchant Yamato-ya Shigemon's residence. The rival Rokuemon tanuki is said to have been based in Tsuda, Tokushima City, with the oral tradition spanning the Katsuura River basin and the Komatsushima Bay region. The legend was recorded in the early modern period through oral transmission collected by local historian Hayashi Unkai, and gained national prominence through Sasazawa Sapo's 1950s novel *The Awa Tanuki War* and a 1939 Daiei film adaptation.