Where were those Tanukis on the ship heading for?
They were going to Fudaraku (Heaven), meaning that this was a journey to death. It’s based on the beliefs of Fudaraku, one of the old Buddhist cults. The Fudaraku cult believed that the island of Fudaraku exists on the Western sea, and by boarding a ship, you can leave your pain and suffering behind, and get to Nirvana. Throughout history, there have been some incidents where a believer was put into a ship-shaped coffin alive, and was thrown into the sea. The ship itself was modeled after Takarabune (Treasure Ship). It’s a ship on which the Seven Lucky Gods rode, with many treasures. It is supposed to be a lucky charm.
