Jon Solo Sebastian 04/27/2024:

I can honestly say that I do not plan for things to happen this way, but the very first thing I read about Kitsune already gives me Loki vibes. “Kitsune are trickster foxes from Japanese folklore.” A friend of mine suggested I write a piece on Kitsune, and considering I adore foxes, I thought, why not?

When I lived in my first apartment, there was a little bit of a drive from the entrance to where my apartment was located. Almost every morning I’d come home from work, there would be a red fox waiting at the entrance. I swear it was waiting for me to get home. It would be in the grass next to the entrance, and when I’d pull in, it would look at me before running alongside my truck as I made my way to my apartment. Then it would scurry off to do its morning fox routine. It always put me in a better mood after a long night of work. Now I know what you’re thinking— I mentioned foxes being tricksters, and then I start out with this cute story. Don’t worry, the trickster foxes are coming. Are you ready for their trickery, though?

The Backstory of Kitsune

According to Britannica, “they are a type of yokai, a class of supernatural creatures with godlike powers, often equated to the English ghoul or demon. Kitsune are noted for their paranormal abilities, particularly metamorphosis. As they age, these abilities can become more powerful. Kitsune are said to live for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. They are popular in many facets of Japanese culture and are regularly depicted in visual art, in text, and at religious shrines.”

A side note: in the video game, Ghost of Tsushima, foxes will guide your character (Jin Sakai) to hidden shrines where you pray to them to unlock rewards for your character. The reason I bring this up is because the fox in the game played a role as a guide in a way, and Kitsune are a part of religious shrines. It also happens to be one of my all-time favorite video games—and you’re able to pet the fox in-game. Who wouldn’t want to pet a fox?

There are two types of Kitsune: the tricksters, and the good ones. Are trickster Kitsune automatically bad in this story of the two? I promise, we’re getting to the trickster foxes, but I’d like to discuss the good traits of Kitsune first. Another nod to the video game I mentioned, is that the good foxes were said to be associated with Inari (Inari Shrines are what the fox led you to in the video game). Inari is known as the god of rice and cultivation. This comes from foxes living near farms and “protecting” the land by eating small pests that could disrupt the growth of crops. Farmers began to worship the “good” Kitsune because they were gifted successful harvests each season. They’d look at the foxes as good luck charms. Over time, however, a different version of Kitsune began to show its face; or the face of others.

Kitsune the Trickster

What I mean by the face of others, is that according to the folktale, Kitsune learn to shapeshift as they get older. Before I get into that, I must mention the other part of the Kitsune tale—their tails. Tails represent power of the Kitsune, and they can have more than one tail. They’re believed to start growing a new tail every one hundred years of their lives. Nine tails is the maximum. Have you ever seen a fox with more than one tail? If you have, I’ll repeat what I’ve said many other times; run like the wind. I’ll tell you why in a moment. Before that, I’ll talk about the more chill nine tailed Kitsune.

With each new tail comes more power and wisdom. I don’t imagine there would be many nine tailed Kitsune at one time because I see them being similar to the Jedi Council; the wisest and most powerful Kitsune. The tale speaks of prosperity and good luck to anyone who sees a nine tailed Kitsune. Now, I know my red fox friend from years ago didn’t have nine tails, but he sure brought a smile to my face every day after work, so I’d call that good fortune for the soul.

Circling back to the shapeshifting Kitsune, it’s believed they learn this power over time and with the growth of new tails. While there are some positive, or good stories of them using their abilities, I’d like to get into the darker end of the tale. Kitsune would possess women, or shapeshift into women to seduce and trick men. It’s not said why they would do this other than they must enjoy tricking and messing with people’s lives. This usually ended tragically. To take it even further into the evil and darker depths, when it possesses the women, it would feed off the life force, or soul of its host.

To make things worse, they are said to be literal man-eaters. They feed off the flesh of men. They’re sexually deviant, they will drain men of their blood much like a vampire, and they will consume the souls of men. I’m not sure how they go from wise old Jedi-like foxes to shapeshifting into women that eat men, but it’s certainly fun to learn about the different types of nine tailed foxes!

On a positive note, the Japanese versions of shapeshifting Kitsune typically tell the tale of them changing into women that are faithful and devoted wives. That sounds much better than flesh eating soul drinkers.

I would like to believe all foxes are good-hearted happy little furry friends rather than the bloodsucking evil spirited ones, so that’s where I’m ending this piece. If you see a fox, please smile or wave, or offer it a pat on the head. I’ve never seen a mean or evil fox, and I’d like to believe that it’s not possible for those beautiful creatures to have any hurtful bones in their little bodies.