Rascal - Araiguma

: At the height of its popularity, Japan imported roughly 1,500 North American raccoons per month to satisfy the demand for "Rascal" pets.

Despite the ecological controversy, Rascal remains a beloved "kawaii" (cute) icon in Japan. Araiguma Rascal

Edgerton, Wisconsin setting for Sterling North's "Rascal" - Facebook : At the height of its popularity, Japan

: Based on the 1963 autobiographical novel Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era by Sterling North. Japan imported roughly 1

: By 2008, these raccoons were causing approximately 30 billion yen in damages to Japanese agriculture annually.