It was nearly 19 years ago when I first visited Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Sakamoto, Otsu, Japan. I headed to the shrine office, a building built in a traditional Japanese style. It was around 5:30 am when I stepped into the entrance hall and saw a woman dressed in a kimono walking upstairs. I assumed she was the person presiding over the meeting I was invited to. So, I stayed in the hall and waited for her to come back down. However, she never reappeared, even after half an hour. Then, a group of ladies arrived and asked why I hadn't gone upstairs to wait for them. I explained that another lady was using the upper floor to change or prepare. Puzzled, they called over a staff member of the office. He informed us that no one had entered the building before me. We all went upstairs together but found the floor completely empty. When I described what I had seen, the clerk replied, "That happens quite often here. The 'tanuki' (Japanese raccoon dogs) like to play tricks on people."