# Rip van Winkle

*The Urth list — 1 messages, 1 voices, 04 May 2010*

<https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/5596>

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### Ash Crill
*04 May 2010, 23:05*

Its interesting that you mention a possible Japanese connection for Winkle.
I'm only 50 pages into the book, but the initial description of Winkle makes
me think of a Raccoon Dog:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanuki

> As to Bax's familiar, Winker/Winkle suggests a link to the story of the
> Urashima Taro, a
> Japanese Rip van Winkle who went away to fairyland for a few days and
> returned home only to find years had passed.
> 
> Strengthening this
> supposition is the second half of the fox's name, Inari, which refers to a
> Japanese god of success & prosperity, often depicted as an old man
> riding a white fox.

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