妖狐
ようこ

Translation: strange fox
Alternate names: kitsune, bake gitsune
Habitat: forests, fields, and mountains
Diet: omnivorous; especially fond of fried tofu

Appearance: Yōko literally means “strange fox.” It refers to magical foxes in the context of folklore. Normally they are referred to simply as kitsune; although terms like yōko and bake gitsune are helpful to distinguish between the animals and the folklore. Yōko appear essentially identical to ordinary, non-magical foxes. As they grow older and more powerful, they undergo physical changes. For every hundred years of life they acquire an additional tail, up to a maximum of nine.

Behavior: Kitsune have a complex society which mirrors human society. They are divided into two main categories: yako and zenko. Yako are wild kitsune who have no master. They are not concerned with social advancement, and enjoy playing tricks on humans. Zenko are good kitsune who serve the god Inari. They continue to acquire new social ranks and honors as they age, and they do not harm humans.

Kitsune are most famous for their ability to change forms. To learn this skill, young kitsune place an object on their head, face the Big Dipper, and pray. The object is usually a human skull or a bone from a cow or a horse. Other objects may be incorporated into this spell to improve the disguise. For example, to disguise itself as a cook a kitsune might place a piece of kitchenware on its body. To transform into one of their favorite disguises–a beautiful young woman–they use leaves, a lily pad, or duckweed, which transforms into long, elegant hair. As kitsune grow more powerful, they no longer need props to create complex disguises.

Origin: Almost every village in Japan has stories about kitsune creating mischief or performing good deeds for the locals. Some kitsune are well known across entire regions.