About us
For over 40 years, LVSJ Tanuki has been connecting students of Japanese Studies in Leiden. We combine socialising and academic enrichment with a shared fascination for Japan.
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Who are we?
We are the Leiden Association of Students in Japanese Studies Tanuki. We have been the study association for the Bachelor’s programme in Japanese Studies at Leiden University since 1982.
At Tanuki, everything revolves around a passion for Japan and offering an enjoyable student life. Our members have access to a wide range of activities that make studying more enjoyable: from fun parties and drinks to interesting guest lectures, museum visits and cultural workshops such as kimono and calligraphy workshops. We also organise special introductory activities and offer personal support for the studies of our members, such as book sales and our educational project KITSUNE.
What makes us truly unique? We are the only study association in the Netherlands that focuses specifically on Japan! Are you considering studying at Leiden University and interested in Japan? Then Tanuki is the association for you! Consider joining our TanukiTomo program and join in with the fun.
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our aim
Tanuki’s goal is to bring Japanologists together in an informal and accessible way, and of course to introduce them to Japan. To achieve this, Tanuki organises a wide range of activities: from drinks and parties to cultural exchanges with Japanese people living in the Netherlands, excursions, film evenings and lectures.
In addition, Tanuki serves as a central point of contact for anyone who wants to learn more about Japan. Japanese people who would like to get in touch with Dutch people are also very welcome at Tanuki.
Tanuki thus offers not only a place to share knowledge and experiences, but also to build lasting friendships and professional networks.
see also
If you are interested in our association, become a member of TanukiTomo today, or take a look at our upcoming activities.
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Our history
The Tanuki study association was founded on 14 February 1982 as an association for students of Japanese. Until 2022, Korean studies were also housed at Tanuki. In 2003, a separate association for Korean studies was founded, Ch’ingu, when Tanuki began to focus more and more on Japan. However, interest in Korean culture never completely disappeared, and with the demise of Ch’ingu, Tanuki began to focus more actively on Korea again from 2007 onwards. For example, Tanuki screened both Japanese and Korean films, and Korea was once again a regular feature in TaTanukiKi, our magazine. In 2022, a separate association for Korean studies was established again under the name S.V.K. Dokkaebi.
What exactly is a tanuki?
The tanuki is the Japanese name for the raccoon dog, a real animal that lives in the wild in Japan. But the tanuki is also deeply rooted in Japanese folklore, where it leads a mythological life of its own.
In stories and prints, the tanuki is often depicted as a mischievous but good-hearted creature with magical powers. It is known as a master of shape-shifting and creating illusions. One of its most striking features is its extremely stretchy scrotum, which, according to tradition, it uses in all kinds of creative and often comical ways, for example as a weapon, boat, musical instrument or even parachute. This characteristic feature is depicted in Tsukioka Yoshitoshi’s Ukiyo-E print, among others.
The meaning of our logo
The design of the Tanuki logo is based on seals, as printed on old Japanese prints. The characters are written in the tensho style (篆書体): an ancient calligraphic style that is still used today by calligraphers in Japan, particularly when carving name seals, known as hanko (判子) or inkan (印鑑). Together, the characters form the combination “狸学生会” from top right to bottom left, a Japanese translation of “Study Association Tanuki”. The logo was designed in 2012 by then board member Dave Hooghiemstra.