In the Japanese traditional calendar, early November marks the start of Rittou or the beginning of winter weather, when the air turns colder and some regions start to see their first flakes of snow. A tanuki, or Japanese raccoon dog, begins its preparations to hibernate for the winter, having built up a thick layer of fat during the warmer months.

The National Diet Library has more in-depth information about the traditional Japanese calendar, its origins, and the relationship to the modern-day calendar. To learn more, please visit their site: https://www.ndl.go.jp/koyomi/e/