History Main / AsianFoxSpirit

** The Moon Queen is an anthropomorphic nine-tailed kitsune GoddessOfTheMoon who also happens to be the spirit of the late UsefulNotes/ElizabethII. She used to be Emiko’s predecessor, the Sixth Folklorist.

** The ''Pathfinder Campaign Setting Dragon Empires Gazetteer'' introduced kitsune as a playable race. They can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shift]] between their true [[BeastMan humanoid fox form]] and a specific human one, can gain the abilities to outright change into [[CunningLikeAFox foxes]] or [[{{Humanshifting}} humans they have met]], have [[MageSpecies some degree of innate magical ability]], and tend to be neutrally-aligned {{Shapeshifting Trickster}}s. However, only nogitsune (kitsune women who have been [[DemonicPossession possessed by spirit oni]] and corrupted into [[TheVamp murderous vamps]]) have been confirmed to have {{multiple tail|edBeast}}s.
** The ''Pathfinder Advanced Race Guide'' includes a new Kitsune-Only Feat called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Magical Tail]] that gives the Kitsune a new tail each time it's taken and a new magical ability to go along with it.

Physically, they have a few distinguishing features: as already mentioned, they have multiple tails (up to nine). They may also have squinted eyes or EyesAlwaysShut (which is called ''kitsune no me'' in Japanese, meaning literally "fox eyes" or idiomatically"shifty eyes").

Physically, they have a few distinguishing features: as already mentioned, they have multiple tails (up to nine). They may also have squinted eyes or EyesAlwaysShut (which is called ''kitsune no me'' in Japanese, meaning literally "fox eyes" or idiomtocally"shifty eyes").

Physically, they have a few distinguishing features: as already mentioned, they have multiple tails (up to nine). They may also have squinted eyes or EyesAlwaysShut (which is called ''kitsune no me'' in Japanese, meaning "fox eyes" or "shifty eyes").

[[AC:Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}

* In Metamatronic's Monster AU, [[Franchise/{{Danganronpa}} Leon Kuwata]] is [[https://metamatronic.tumblr.com/post/666978492016132096/meanwhile-im-also-drawing-the-same-idiots-i portrayed as a kitsune]]. He only has five tails because, in the author's words, he's incompetent.

* The Fuchsbau Wesen in ''Series/{{Grimm}}'' are very similar to Kitsunes. There is also a type of Wesen known as Kitsune, and according to legend, are one of the very few Wesens to have a tail--nine, in fact.

->''"The kitsune is multitalented, appearing in local folklore, historical records, literary texts, theatrical performances, and contemporary popular culture. It can be a dangerous shape-shifter and it can possess people; but it is also a standard feature in Inari worship, and stone statues of kitsune are stationed at shrines throughout the country. With so many different incarnations and meanings, it is fair to say that in Japan today the kitsune -- a charming and cunning deceiver that emanates an aura of danger and malevolence -- is admired, worshipped and feared."''

* In Japan they are called ''bake-gitsune'' ("[[LostInTranslation changed/changing/monstrous]] fox") or ''youko'' ("{{youkai}} fox"), though both are often localised simply as ''kitsune'' ("fox").

And likewise, differences exist in the depictions of such beings--for example, the Korean ''gumiho''/''kumiho'' is more often presented as outright malevolent than is the Japanese ''kitsune'' -- often killing humans in order to [[ToServeMan eat their hearts and/or livers]]. The ''kitsune'', on the other hand, is depicted as sometimes marrying with humans, in which capacity they prove to be devoted spouses and parents.

* ''ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW'': Kitsune appears to be named after the Japanese fox-spirits, [[spoiler:although she might be a bit odder than that, having recently been implied to be from a whole family of ancient, powerful animal spirits]].

* ''Series/GumihoTaleOfTheFoxsChild'' is a Korean {{Thriller}} tv miniseries about a gumiho who has to endure 10 years of marriage to become human. On the eve of her 10th anniversary, her husband breaks his vows, leaving her and the 9-year-old daughter who has inherited her abilities. Oddly, the gumiho in this story is sympathetic, only wishing a normal life as a human. It is only when her daughter is lynched that she becomes vengeful.

** Kyuemon Izayoi from ''Series/ShurikenSentaiNinninger'', who fits the trickster archetype because he's extremely secretive, manipulative, and you never really know where his loyalties lie [[spoiler:until late in the series, where it turns out he's BigBad Gengetsu Kibaoni's firstborn son]]. The same goes for his ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' counterpart, [[Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel Madame]] [[ShesAManInJapan Odius]], who [[spoiler:ends up usurping Galvanax as the BigBad]].

* On ''Series/TeenWolf'', the second half of the third season deals with kitsune mythology. Kira Yukimura is revealed to be a kitsune and possesses a golden spiritual aura in the shape of a fox. In keeping with the idea that the kitsune can create fire or lightning by rubbing its tails together, Kira has the ability to [[ShockAndAwe manipulate electrical currents]]. Her mother has these powers as well. There are said to be 13 different types of kitsune, including the nogitsune -- a trickster spirit that feeds on chaos, strife and pain. [[spoiler:The latter comes into [[DemonicPossession possession]] of Stiles' body for the remainder of the season.]]

** Tamamo-no-Mae was a beautiful fortune teller who could answer any question, and whose [[BeautyIsNeverTarnished beauty was never tarnished]]. The Emperor Konoe fell in love with her and made her one of his courtesans, but after several years the Emperor fell seriously ill. Eventually, Abe no Yasuchika, an [[UsefulNotes/{{Onmyodo}} onmyoji]] descended from Abe no Seimei, told him that Tamamo was a powerful ''kitsune'' -- in later versions the same fox-spirit as Daji from the ''Literature/FengshenYanyi'' -- that had been poisoning him. Her identity exposed, Tamamo fled, and the Emperor sent his army to kill her. The army tracked Tamamo to the Nara plains, but after [[Mystical108 108 days]] only Kazusa-no-suke and Miura-no-suke -- the two most powerful warriors in Japan -- remained. Tamamo appeared to Miura-no-suke in a dream, prophesying he would kill her and pleading for her life, but the following day Miura-no-suke shot and killed her. In the original narrative, Tamamo's body was taken to Edo and miraculous treasures were found inside, but in later iterations it [[TakenForGranite became a cursed stone]] called the ''Sessho-seki'' (Killing Stone) and Tamamo's spirit an [[StringyHairedGhostGirl onryo]] who haunted it. In an addendum to the tale written in 1653, Tamamo-no-Mae was eventually exorcized by a Buddhist monk named Genno, allowing her to pass on in peace. In some versions, the ''Sessho-seki'' was shattered and its pieces scattered across Japan, manifesting as lesser ''kitsune'' called ''kuda-gitsune'' and other ''yokai''.

* In ''Podcast/ResidentsOfProserpinaPark'' Mirai encounters a kitsune, whom she names Fox Ears, while riding on a bus in Japan. Fox Ears, true to her name, takes the form of a woman with fox ears and a tail. She is haughty and high-strung, but also provides helpful information to Mirai.

** ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'': During the 1998 "Year of the Lotus" releases, ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'' received an Asian-themed expansion called ''Hengeyokai'' which introduced the Kitsune werefoxes.[[note]]There was a similar creature already in this setting, but this book really fleshed them out.[[/note]] They are described as the youngest of the Changing Breeds, and are the most spiritually inclined. While physically weakest, they are skilled in elemental sorcery as well as paper-themed origami sorcery. As a character goes up in rank, their vulpine forms grow additional tails, generally up to five (the games' level cap), but the legendary Bai Mianxi got up to nine tails.
** In ''TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness'', the kitsune are a type of fox-spirit. Due to [[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheForsaken Father Wolf]] coercing their progenitor Inari to rein them in during the ancient times they're divided into two factions, benign Inari Seha (obedient foxes of Inari) and malevolent Inari Kihar (foxes who abandoned Inari). They are most commonly encountered as allies or enemies of werewolves (depending on faction), but kitsune bonded to human hosts are playable.

** The protagonist is a Korean fox-spirit who goes by Miho and is searching for a traveler who showed her kindness when she was a normal fox, wandering the Earth while relying on her mysterious ability to be forgotten after 24 hours by anyone who meets her to survive through thievery. When her travels take her to the floating island city of Wellington, New Zealand, Miho ends up befriending -- and perhaps falling in love with -- the human barista[=/=]aspiring novelist Aspen and the vampire librarian Juliet, [[spoiler:and can end the game having ascending into a divine nine-tailed fox once her ''yeowoo guseul'' is fully-charged]].

* ''Webcomic/{{Housepets}}'' features Great Kitsune as the DM of the [[CosmicChessGame tabletop fantasy game]] that is being played, with our protagonists as pieces. He's smart enough to be the DM, and has an obvious trickster side, but is also somewhat impulsive and a bit short-sighted despite his best attempts to be the BigGood the pets need. [[spoiler:Turns out thaat there's already been another kitsune in the comic... Great Kitsune's little brother is none other than ''Karishad'', handily explaining the latter's weirdness and seeming ability to bend reality to his odd whims]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SonicPrime'': The alternate universe version of Miles -- who as a two-tailed fox was already based on the ''kitsune'' -- from New Yoke City is shown giving himself seven extra mechanized tails that double as CombatTentacles, bringing him up to a total of nine. This coincides with his MeaningfulRename of "Nine", based on a legend of a ''kitsune'' gaining nine tails total upon reaching full maturity. His shadow in the recap of his backstory highlights his hardened nature, showing his usual two-tailed form before going to a menacingly-posed nine-tailed version.

** [[Characters/SCPFoundationSCPs001To999 SCP-953]] is a kumiho, and calling her a kitsune [[BerserkButton sends her into a violent rage]]... though she has [[TheFakeCutie taken advantage of the confusion]] on occasion. Her profile notes that the difference between kumiho and kitsune seems to be a matter of ethnicity and culture akin to "the difference between a Cherokee Indian and a New Delhi Indian."

* Several kitsune show up among the various fae in ''Series/LostGirl'', though it's constantly mispronounced as "kit-soon".

* In ''Fanfic/LightingCandles'', when Tadashi Hamada becomes a guardian spirit, he is able to turn into a fire kitsune, particularly ironic since [[DeathByIrony he died in a fire]].

** [[Characters/SCPFoundationSCP953 SCP-953]] is a kumiho, and calling her a kitsune [[BerserkButton sends her into a violent rage]]... though she has [[TheFakeCutie taken advantage of the confusion]] on occasion. Her profile notes that the difference between kumiho and kitsune seems to be a matter of ethnicity and culture akin to "the difference between a Cherokee Indian and a New Delhi Indian."

*** ''Series/NinjaSentaiKakuranger'' featured a nine-tailed kitsune who wrapped most of her tails around her body like feather boas. She appeared in ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' as Katastrophe, the result of Rita Repulsa turning Katherine, the second Pink Ranger, into a monster.

* In China, they are called ''huli jing'' ("fox spirit") or ''jiuweihu'' ("[[MultipleTailedBeast nine-tailed]] fox").

Indeed, kitsune, when benevolent, have come to be closely associated with a [[UsefulNotes/{{Shinto}} Shinto]] ''[[UsefulNotes/{{Shinto}} kami]]'', Inari.

Nevertheless, when the stories of such foxes cross borders, the local word is simply applied: that is, when a story of a ''huli jing'' is imported to Japan, it is told as a story of a ''kitsune''. For example, the Chinese ''huli jing'' Daji is usually considered to be the same entity as the Japanese ''kitsune'' Tamamo-no-Mae.

Physically, they have a few distinguishing features: as already mentioned, they have multiple tails (up to nine). They may also have squinted eyes or EyesAlwaysShut (which is called "''kitsune no me''" in Japanese, meaning "fox eyes" or "shifty eyes").

One particular variety, the small, weasel-like ''kuda-gitsune'' or "pipefox" (sometimes known as ''kanko'', ''izuna'' or ''osaki'')[[note]]in modern Japanese, "izuna" is considered a dialectal term for weasels[[/note]] is employed as a {{Familiar}} by human families. In most depictions, they follow commands faithfully but are capable of slowly bringing their masters to ruin (most often by [[ExplosiveBreeder multiplying until they run out of food]]). These are sometimes depicted as "fragments" of more powerful foxes (see Tamamo-no-Mae under Mythology), or even their detached tails come to life.

!!Examples

* AsianFoxSpirit/FanWorks

* AsianFoxSpirit/LiveActionTV

** Tamamo-no-Mae was a beautiful fortune teller who could answer any question, and whose [[BeautyIsNeverTarnished beauty was never tarnished]]. The Emperor Konoe fell in love with her and made her one of his courtesans, but after several years the Emperor fell seriously ill. Eventually, Abe no Yasuchika, an [[UsefulNotes/{{Onmyodo}} onmyoji]] descended from Abe no Seimei, told him that Tamamo was a powerful ''kitsune'' -- in later versions the same fox-spirit as Daji from the ''Literature/FengshenYanyi'' -- that had been poisoning him, though whether she was doing so willingly or on the orders of an evil daimyo hoping to usurp the throne depends on the version being told. Her identity exposed, Tamamo fled, and the Emperor sent Kazusa-no-suke and Miura-no-suke, the two most powerful warriors in Japan, to kill her. Kazusa-no-suke and Miura-no-suke tracked Tamamo to the Nara plains, but she evaded them for 108 days. Tamamo appeared to Miura-no-suke in a dream, prophesying he would kill her and pleading for her life, but the following day Miura-no-suke shot and killed her. In the original narrative, Tamamo's body was taken to Edo and miraculous treasures were found inside, but in later iterations it [[TakenForGranite became a cursed stone]] called the ''Sessho-seki'' (Killing Stone) and Tamamo's spirit an [[StringyHairedGhostGirl onryo]] who haunted it. In an addendum to the tale written in 1653, Tamamo-no-Mae was eventually exorcized by a Buddhist monk named Genno, allowing her to pass on in peace. In some versions, the ''Sessho-seki'' was shattered and its pieces scattered across Japan, manifesting as lesser ''kitsune'' called ''kuda-gitsune'' and other ''yokai''.
** ''Tamamizu Monogatari'' is a Muromachi period ''otogizōshi'' about a male kitsune who falls in love with a human girl and [[GenderBender transforms into a girl]] in order to become her servant, ultimately deciding to reveal the ruse and return to the forest.

One particular variety, the small, weasel-like ''kuda-gitsune'' or "pipefox" (sometimes known as ''kanko'', ''izuna'' or ''osaki'')[[note]]in modern Japanese, "izuna" is considered a dialectal term for weasels[[/note]] is employed as a {{Familiar}} by human families. In most depictions, they follow commands faithfully but are capable of slowly bringing their masters to ruin (most often by [[ExplosiveBreeder multiplying until they run out of food]]). These are sometimes depicted as "fragments" of more powerful foxes, or even their detached tails come to life.

One particular variety, the small, weasel-like ''kuda-gitsune'' or "pipefox" (sometimes known as ''kanko'', ''izuna'' or ''osaki'') is employed as a {{Familiar}} by human families. In most depictions, they follow commands faithfully but are capable of slowly bringing their masters to ruin (most often by [[ExplosiveBreeder multiplying until they run out of food]]).

* ''WesternAnimation/SonicPrime'': The alternate universe version of Miles -- who as a two-tailed fox was already based on the ''kitsune'' -- is shown giving himself seven extra mechanized tails that double as CombatTentacles, bringing him up to a total of nine. This coincides with his MeaningfulRename of "Nine", based on a legend of a ''kitsune'' gaining nine tails total upon reaching full maturity. His shadow in the recap of his backstory highlights his hardened nature, showing his usual two-tailed form before going to a menacingly-posed nine-tailed version.

But it should not be thought that these foxes begin their lives as supernatural beings. Instead, in many depictions, they start as normal foxes. As they grow older, they grow too in power (and number of tails). Eventually they gain human-level intelligence (or greater), as well as various powers: VoluntaryShapeshifting (in particular to [[HumanityEnsues human form]]), [[DemonicPossession possession]], [[HypnoticCreature enchantment]], [[TheOmniscient supernatural wisdom]], and more.

* In [[WhatCouldHaveBeen an earlier version]] of ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', the red panda spirits sported eight or nine tails, similar to ''huli jing''.

* ''VisualNovel/PleaseBeHappy'': The protagonist Miho is a Korean fox-spirit who is searching for a traveler who once showed her kindness, ending up befriending the aspiring novelist Aspen and the vampire librarian Juliet when her travels take her to New Zealand.

** [[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-953 SCP-953]] is a kumiho, and calling her a kitsune [[BerserkButton sends her into a violent rage]]... though she has [[TheFakeCutie taken advantage of the confusion]] on occasion. Her profile notes that the difference between kumiho and kitsune seems to be a matter of ethnicity and culture akin to "the difference between a Cherokee Indian and a New Delhi Indian."