Quote Originally Posted by AssertnFailure
Also....as for the nine beasts adopted after shukaku's introduction.....wasn't the ichibi supposed to be a tanuki anyway, based on chinese mythology?
Yes, the Shukaku is based on the racoon. However, the Tanuki originates from Japanese folklore, rather than Chinese. It is most well known in anime from the Studio Ghibli film Pom Poko. Interesting movie, I must say. Go check it out if you can.