[StoryDive] Pom Poko Revealed: The Real Mythology, Folklore & References Explained! It’s More than just Tanuki!

Studio Ghibli’s 1994 film Pom Poko, is perhaps more steeped in Japanese mythology and folklore than any other film in the Ghibli catalogue. As I did for Spirited away, Princess Mononoke and Ponyo, in this video, I will breakdown all the cultural references and real-world mythology you may have missed in Pom Poko. It’s so much more than just the Tanuki! 00:00 Intro 01:12 What is a Tanuki? Basics 02:03 Takahata’s 3 Tanuki Forms 02:34 Takahata’s inspiration 03:45 What does “Pom Poko“ mean? 04:12 Tanuki Children’s Songs 04:34 The Story of Pom Poko 05:52 “Bunbuku Chagama“ reference 06:06 Tanuki “Leaves“ 06:18 Tanuki Statue Tranformations 07:17 The Tanuki Scrotum Explained 08:09 Tanuki disguised as Humans 08:32 Tanuki using Leaves as Money 08:49 Tanuki vs Foxes 09:19 The Twin Star Children 09:43 The Ghost Orbs / Fireballs 10:12 Chōchin-Obake / Tsukumogami 10:33 Oiteke Bori Ghost Story Reference 10:50 Mujina (Faceless Yōkai) Ghost Story Reference 11:34 The Shikoku & Sado Tranformation Masters 11:53 The Legend of Kincho 12:22 The Legend of Yashima no Hage 12:58 The 3 Famous Tanuki of Japan 13:19 The Legend of Inugami Gyōbu 13:54 The 3 Gods reference 14:25 Kachi Kachi Yama reference 14:40 Tanuki and the Moon 15:00 The Samurai Nasu no Yoichi Reference 15:20 Operation Spector & The Rooster 16:46 Ghibli Character Easter Eggs 16:58 The Yōkai Parade (Hyakki Yagyō) 17:34 ALL Yōkai References (Almost) 20:58 The Funeral of Inugami Gyōbu 21:28 The Kitsune Make Contact 22:04 The White Snake 22:20 Hage’s Treasure Ship (Takarabune) 22:57 Gonta’s Final Fight (Tsurube-otoshi) 23:31 The Final Illusion 24:06 Outro