The real-world tanuki, or
raccoon dog, is not a
raccoon -- it is a
wild dog with markings similar to a raccoon's. The raccoon is a member of family
Procyonidae, as are the
coati, the
kinkajou and possibly the
red panda. The tanuki is a member of family
Canidae, alongside
dogs,
wolves, and
foxes.
The raccoon is native to North America. The raccoon dog is native to Asia; while most famous in Japan, it is also known in Korea, China, and Siberia. It was introduced to Europe by Russian fur farmers in the early 20th century, and since then has been found in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.