All About Kitsune: The Trickster Fox from Japanese Myth

If you’re a fan of anime or Japanese culture, you’ve probably heard of kitsune. Kitsune are mystical, shapeshifting fox spirits known for playing tricks on humans. But they’re also much more than that. In this article, we partnered with an urban legends expert to teach you everything you need to know about these yōkai, including what they are, their powers and weaknesses, legends associated with them, and more.

Kitsune in Japanese Mythology

Urban legends expert Sydney Bermudez says kitsune are intelligent fox spirits. In Japanese folklore, they can either be loyal protectors or mischievous tricksters. While they usually appear as a fox, they often shapeshift into humans. They can have up to 9 tails, with more tails representing age and power.

Section 1 of 7:

What are kitsune?

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Kitsune are magical foxes from Japanese mythology. According to Bermudez, kitsune are powerful fox spirits (called yōkai, Japanese spirits) that are known for their intellect and supernatural abilities. They’re able to shapeshift, create illusions, and possess humans. Bermudez explains that kitsune can gain up to 9 tails as they age, which represents their wisdom and strength.^{[1]
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Sydney Bermudez
Urban Legends Expert

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- The word “kitsune” simply means “fox.”
- Kitsune are also able to turn invisible.
- In traditional Japanese art, kitsune are often depicted mid-transformation between fox and human, shown with multiple tails and flowing robes.
- Kitsune are still an important part of Japanese culture today, often appearing in anime like Naruto and Spirited Away.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Sydney Bermudez is an urban legends expert who shares paranormal cases, internet mysteries, and psychological horror stories to her over 400k followers.

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Kitsune Appearance & Behaviors

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Kitsune typically resemble normal foxes, but can shapeshift. In many cases, kitsune take the form of an ordinary fox. However, they’re capable of shapeshifting into humans. According to some legends, younger kitsune struggle to maintain their human forms and may maintain fox-like features or a tail. Their true form may also be revealed in reflections.^{[2]
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- According to some legends, the kitsune shapeshift after placing a skull or human hair on their head.
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Kitsune can have up to 9 tails. Kitsune are often known as the 9-tailed fox. A kitsune starts out with just one tail, and as it ages and gains wisdom and power, it grows more. The most powerful kitsune have 9 tails, and according to some legends, this means they’re over 1,000 years old or have reached immortality.^{[3]
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- Kitsune typically gain one tail every 100 years.
Kitsune are known for their dual nature. Some are benevolent protectors and guardians, while Bermudez says others are mischievous tricksters.^{[4]
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Sydney Bermudez
Urban Legends Expert

Expert Interview} Their tricks range from harmless pranks to terrifying allusions, and they typically target arrogant and greedy people. However, when treated with respect, kitsune become deeply attached to people and act as loyal protectors. They may become vengeful if a promise to them is broken.^{[5]
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Kitsune Powers & Weaknesses

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Kitsune can shapeshift, create illusions, and generate fire. Kitsune are usually most known for their shapeshifting abilities, but they possess many other magical powers. They can create in-depth illusions, including realistic landscapes and objects, to trick people. They can also generate fire or lightning by rubbing their tails together. Here are some other common kitsune powers included in myths and legends:^{[6]
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- Possession: Malevolent kitsune can possess humans, causing them to act strangely or fall ill.
- Flight: In many myths, kitsune are capable of flying or levitating, especially those who have 6 or more tails.
- Invisibility: Many kitsune remain invisible, especially when playing tricks on humans.
- Dream manipulation: In some myths, kitsune can enter and influence the dreams of humans. They often use this power to deliver messages or play tricks.
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Kitsune may lose control of their powers when exposed to alcohol or dogs. In many legends, kitsune accidentally reveal their true form when they’re distracted or scared. When they drink alcohol in their human form, they often become careless and may let their tail show, which would expose their true identity to the humans. They’re also terrified of dogs, so they may become so rattled that they revert to their fox appearance and run away.^{[7]
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- In some stories, kitsune are also weakened by iron. Iron weapons can paralyze them or lead to a slow death.
A star ball (hoshi no tama) is a glowing, magical pearl or jewel that kitsune carry. It represents their soul, life force, and power source. If it is stolen, the kitsune will either lose their strength, die, or be forced to serve the person who stole it.^{[8]
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Kitsune Legends

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Many stories present kitsune as tricksters who play numerous pranks on humans. Kitsune commonly transform into beautiful women to seduce men. When they’re successful, they can suck the life force from them.^{[9]
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Research source} Another popular trick is to give humans fake money that transforms into leaves once inside the wallet. Some kitsune have even tricked humans into eating dumplings made of horse dung.
Stories of fox possession, known as kitsunetsuki, are widespread throughout Japan. Beginning in the Heian period, people sometimes blamed illness on the fox spirits.^{[10]
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Research source} Families hired exorcists to temporarily take over the possession and figure out what the fox wanted.
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Kitsune sometimes serve as familiar spirits. Sometimes, kitsune are presented as familiars, or protective spirits. Families claimed to use these fox spirits to gain fortune, and the kitsune were also said to cause illness and curse the possessions, crops, and livestock of a family’s enemies.
- Most notably, Bermudez says kitsune are believed to serve as messengers for the Shintō deity Inari.^{[11]
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Kitsune are commonly portrayed as lovers. Many stories involve kitsune taking the form of human women and seducing young human men. The man typically does not know she is a kitsune, and she proves to be a devoted wife. When the man discovers her true nature, the fox-wife is forced to leave him.^{[12]
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- In Nihon Ryōiki, an anthology of Buddhist tales, the fox-wife’s identity is revealed because she is frightened by her husband’s dog.
- Many of these fox-wives bear children who possess supernatural qualities.
- In other stories, kitsune marry each other. Sunshowers (when rain falls from a clear sky) are called kitsune no yomeiri, or “the kitsune’s wedding.” The event is considered a good omen, but the kitsune will seek revenge on uninvited guests.

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Types of Kitsune

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There are many different types of kitsune in Japanese mythology. Many authors attempted to classify these mystical foxes in different ways, starting in the Heian Period and intensifying in the Edo Period. These classifications are typically associated with different elements or locations in nature. Here are some of the most common types of kitsune:
- Tenko: benevolent, celestial foxes
- Kuko: sky foxes
- Kukan: dark foxes
- Chiko: earth foxes
- Kaze: wind foxes
- Seishin: spirit foxes
- Kasai: fire foxes
- Kawa: river foxes
- Umi: ocean foxes
- Yama: mountain foxes
- Mori: forest foxes
- Sanda: thunder foxes
- Jikan: time foxes
- Ongaku: sound foxes

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Are kitsune evil?

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However, they are complex beings with dual natures. Kitsune can be extremely benevolent, serving as protectors and bringing good fortune. On the other hand, they’re also known to be tricksters. Trickster kitsune can be malevolent and may even possess humans, cause madness, deceive people, and even kill.

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Other Japanese Myths

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Japanese folklore is filled with tons of other fascinating creatures. If you want to learn more, check out these other wikiHow articles about yōkai, gods and deities, and urban legends: