In this article, we will see details about foxes in Japan, their popularity, legends, folklore. Did you know that in Japan there is even a village where you can see foxes in the snow? Yes, foxes are of great interest in Japan!
In Japan, foxes are called “Kitsune” [狐] and are known for their cunning and intelligence. Traditional Japanese stories portray them as intelligent beings with paranormal abilities.
Table of Contents
The Tales of Kitsune
According to Yōkai folklore, all foxes have the ability to transform into human form. Who hasn’t watched Natsume Yuujinchou, with our nyanko-sensei? If you haven’t seen it, I believe it will be a good experience.
In some popular tales, foxes use this ability to deceive others. In other stories, they are portrayed as loyal guardians, friends, lovers, and wives.
Foxes and humans lived together in ancient Japan, thus this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. Kitsune became closely associated with Inari, a shinto kami, or spirit, and served as their messengers.
This role reinforced the supernatural significance of the fox. The more tails a kitsune has, the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Remember that they can have up to nine, a form that is most seen in popular culture.
Because of their potential power and influence, some people make sacrifices to them as if they were a deity. On the other hand, foxes were often seen as “witch animals.” Especially during the superstitious Edo period, they were considered goblins that could not be trusted.
Kitsune Masks
Kitsune masks have a distinctive appearance, usually made of papier-mâché or wood and hand-painted with golden or red details. The mask represents the face of a fox and is often used as part of a costume or outfit in theatrical performances or folk dances.
There are many different types of Kitsune masks, each with its own appearance and meaning. For example, the Noh Kitsune mask is used in Noh theater performances and usually has a more realistic and detailed appearance. The Okame Kitsune mask, on the other hand, is used in folk dance performances and has a more caricatured look.
Kitsune masks are an important part of Japanese culture and are often seen at festivals and traditional ceremonies. In addition to their impressive appearance and cultural symbolism, Kitsune masks are an example of Japanese craftsmanship and the country’s rich tradition of handicrafts.
You can find some videos that teach step-by-step how to make a fox mask or buy them on Japanese websites, or from anime and cosplay products.
We recommend reading: 10 Famous Japanese Masks and Their Meanings
Types of Kitsune
And to finish, a rather interesting piece of information. They are not all the same, this may seem obvious. But anyway, let’s identify some types that exist in the culture.
- Bakemono-Kitsune: An evil and ghostly fox, similar to other entities like Reiko, Kiko, and Koryo.
- Genko: A black-furred kitsune, usually considered a sign of good omen.
- Kiko: A fox spirit.
- Kitsune: General term for “fox,” which can be portrayed as good or evil.
- Kitsune-Bi: Kitsunes that have the power to invoke fire with their mouth, tail, and through transmutation.
- Koryo: A cursed fox.
- Kuko: Foxes associated with the element Air. Kukos are extremely evil, comparable to Tengu, a goblin from Japanese mythology.
- Kyuubi: Kitsunes that have reached 900 years of age and developed 9 tails. They gain the ability to see and hear everything anywhere in the world, as well as obtain infinite wisdom.
- Reiko: The ghost of a fox, which is not necessarily evil, but is definitely cunning.
- Shakko: A red-furred kitsune, which can be both good and evil.
- Shouzaa: The spirit Seiryu, who oversees the foxes.
- Tenko: Elite celestial kitsunes, who reach 1,000 years of age. Normally, at this age, they already have 9 tails and their fur changes to silver or gold.
- Yako/Yakan: Literally, “evil foxes.”
- Nogitsune: Wild kitsunes, usually used to differentiate between the Good and the Evil.
As we can see, there are various types, both good and evil. It is common to see references to these animals in anime. In anime like Natsume Yuuchinchou, Pokemon, No Game No Life, among others.
The Nine-Tailed Fox
A long time ago, at the beginning of things, when there was only the Celestial Kingdom, the Creator Goddess Izanami [伊邪那美命] gave birth to twins, the God of Fire Kagutsuchi [軻遇突智] and the Goddess of the Sun Amaterasu [天照].
The Creator Goddess Izanami was severely burned by the birth of the Fire Gods, which caused her definitive death. The born twins were rebellious, cruel, and vain, being driven by their fire energy to desire power at any cost.
Rejecting the Celestial Kingdom of their Parents, Izanagi and Izanami, the Goddess of the Sun Amaterasu and the God of Fire Kagutsuchi created the Demon Kingdom of Fire Oni No Seka, so they could rule shamelessly and separated from the celestial government.
The Goddess of the Sun Amaterasu [天照] longed for beauty and power, and she was never happy with her appearance. So she changed her form at will. She took on the form of the elegant and cunning fox with her rays of sunlight forming her nine flowing tails.
Thus she became the mother of all fallen Shapeshifters. She took the name Kyukon [キュウコン], which is a combination of kyū [九] meaning nine and kon [恨] meaning curse, representing the nine tails or curses that she would inflict upon humanity.
Animes with Kitsune (Foxes)
Most animes that mix Japanese mythology usually address something related to foxes, especially the goddess Amaterasu as in the classic Naruto. What few do not know are animes focused on Japanese foxes.
You can see some of these animes in our articles on Mythological Animes and Animal Animes. Of course, our main goal is to show some of these animes below:
Gugure Kokkuri – San
The story revolves around a girl named Kohina who is summoned by a Kokkuri-san, a low-level ghost in Japanese folklore. The Kokkuri-san she calls turns out to be a young and handsome man with white hair.
At first, he intended to simply haunt her, but soon he becomes concerned about her terrible habit of eating a cup of ramen for every meal. Later he decides to haunt her to protect her. The anime features various mythological creatures from Japanese folklore, including foxes.
Kamisama Hajimemashita
Kamisama Hajimemashita is a shoujo romance and comedy anime that features a kitsune protagonist. The anime tells the story of Nanami, a girl who is evicted from her home due to her gambling-addicted father, who abandoned her and ran away with many debts.
While wandering the streets, Nanami meets a man who, upon learning of her story, offers her his home to live in, which is actually an abandoned temple where she becomes the deity of that place.
Inu x Boku
Shirakiin Ririchiyo, tormented by the flattery and mistreatment that her family’s name inflicted on her throughout her life, decides to move and live alone until she learns to have enough confidence to interact with people without being rude or hurting them.
Her parents only agree to this if she goes to live in Maison de Ayakashi, commonly known as Ayakashi House, a luxury condominium where only those who are selected can reside. But the truth is that this house hides another secret.
Other Fox Animes
There are other animes, movies, and OVAs with foxes that go unnoticed by the public. Let’s list them all below, starting from the best to the worst. I haven’t watched any anime on the list to judge, their ratings are also not high.
| The Helpful Fox Senko-san | TV | 2019 |
| Black Fox | Movie | 2019 |
| Cheonnyeon-yeowoo Yeowoobi | Movie | 2007 |
| Gingitsune: Messenger Fox of the Gods | TV | 2013 |
| Our Home’s Fox Deity | TV | 2008 |
| Genbanojou | Movie | 2017 |
| Chironup no Kitsune | Movie | 1987 |
| Kanokon | TV | 2008 |
| Voice of Fox | TV | 2018 |
| Gongitsune | Movie | 1985 |
| Namake Gitsune | Movie | 1941 |
| Kitsune no Home Run Ou | Movie | 1949 |
| Kitsune to Circus | Movie | 1948 |
| Mang Nu Yu Huli | Movie | 1982 |
| Fox Wood Monogatari | OVA | 1991 |
| Kitsune to Budou | OVA | 1998 |
| Kogitsune no Okurimono | OVA | 1993 |
| Kyuubi no Kitsune to Tobimaru (Sesshouseki) | Movie | 1968 |
Zao Kitsune Mura – Fox Village in Japan
In Japan, we have seen things like the Cat Island, Rabbit Island, and the city of deer. There is also the fox village. That’s right, a village full of foxes walking on the Snow in the mountains.
The fox village is located near Shiroishi in Miyagi Prefecture, it is called Zao Fox Village or Zao Kitsune Mura. In the village, foxes roam freely and visitors can interact with them, feed them, and take many photos.
Foxes are popular creatures in Japanese folklore, there is even a Shrine dedicated to foxes, as they are said to be messengers of the deity Inari. Many visit this village just to see the beautiful foxes wandering on the snow.
Besides the kawaii foxes, there are other animals in the village like rabbits. Like any tourist spot, here you will find restaurants and souvenir shops with many fox-related products. If you are visiting Miyagi, be sure to visit Zao Kitsune Mura.
On site, there are six different types of foxes that run and interact with visitors. Upon paying the entrance fee, you receive some food to give to the animals, however, you should not feed them by hand, as despite looking adorable and harmless, foxes are wild.
When visiting the fox village, you will pay approximately 1000 yen for access. Be careful with the animals; they may bite if you crouch down too close. As foxes are territorial animals, be cautious with belongings and backpacks, as they may try to urinate on them.
- You can see more details about the village on its official website: Zao Kitsune Mura
- Address: 〒 989-0733 Miyagi, Shiroishi, Fukuokayatsumiya, Kawarago−11−3
- Phone: +81 224-24-8812
To conclude the article, we will leave 2 beautiful videos for you to get to know this village full of foxes.
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