"The Tale of Eight Hundred and Eight Tanukis" refers to the overall leader of the tanuki in the Shikoku region—Hidden God Okite Tanuki.
In Japan, it's considered a rather famous supernatural creature.
It is said that this tanuki leader occupied Matsuyama in Iyo, leading eight hundred and eight subordinates. Each of these eight hundred and eight subordinates is a small chief of a territory.
The forces of Eight Hundred and Eight Tanukis mainly guard the Shikoku region and oppose their archenemies, the Fox Brigade.
When Hidden God Okite Tanuki was active in the present world, the fox force was no match for the tanuki force. Tanuki, using Matsuyama as their base, at their peak conquered the whole of Shikoku and even established the rule that "no fox is allowed to set foot in Shikoku."
Because of the tanuki's control over the Shikoku region, in the old days when humans and demons coexisted, Shikoku locals were seldom harmed by other monsters, including foxes.
