Kitsune are long lived, intelligent foxes said to live throughout Japan that possess magical abilities that increase as they age and grow wiser. They are not fundamentally different from regular foxes; any fox that lives long enough can gain magical powers. They can have anywhere from one to nine tails. Generally, kitsune with more tails are believed to be older and more powerful.

Kitsune are well-known for their shapeshifting abilities. They commonly assume the forms of young girls, beautiful women, or elderly men and can duplicate the appearance of specific people. The form a kitsune can take is not limited by its age or gender.

Kitsune transformed into women are sometimes said to have a narrow face with close-set eyes, thin eyebrows, and high cheekbones. Other traits that can suggest a person is actually is a kitsune in disguise include foxlike traits such as a fox-shaped shadow or a reflection revealing its true form. In some stories, kitsune have trouble hiding their tails when they are in human form, especially when they become careless or drunk. Kitsune may also be exposed due to their fear and hatred of dogs. Sometimes, a kitsune will be so rattled by a dog's presence that it will revert to its fox form and flee.

Other abilities kitsune can possess include the ability to possess people, generating fire or lightening from their tails or mouths, intentionally appearing in the dreams of others, flight, invisibility, and the ability to create elaborate illusions. In some stories, they can also cause insanity or take on fantastic appearances such as that of a second moon. Other depictions portray them as somewhat similar to vampires or succubi in that they feed on the life or spirit of humans, often through sexual contact.

Nine-tailed kitsune possess powers far greater than kitsune with fewer tails. They can see or hear anything that happens anywhere in the world. Some stories also claim that they have infinite wisdom (omniscience). Nine-tailed kitsune, unlike kitsune with fewer tails, have either golden or white fur.

The part of source of a kitsune's powers is its hoshi no tama (literally meaning star ball), a round or onion shaped white ball that is usually carried in a kitsune's mouth or on its tail(s) when it is not in human form. They are sometimes described as magical jewels or pearls and are said to contain either a kitsune's soul or a portion of its powers. In cases where it is depicted as the kitsune's soul, it is said that a kitsune will die if separated from its hoshi no tama for too long; thus, one may be able to extract a promise from the yōkai in exchange for its safe return.

Kitsune can be classified as either zenko or yako (also called nogitsune). Zenko are benevolent kitsune that are associated with Inari (the Shinto deity of rice). Yako are mischievous or malevolent kitsune and are unfortunately said to be the more common of the two types.

Zenko have to power to ward off evil and can serve as guardian spirits. People have been known to leave offerings for them at shrines in the hopes of receiving aid from them. Zenko are Inari's messengers, so they carry messages to and from the deity. They can be asked to help deal with particularly troublesome yako.

Kitsune are often portrayed as mischievous or malevolent tricksters. Both types of kitsune will target overly proud and/or greedy people, but yako will sometimes go after farmers, tradesmen, or devout Buddhist monks. The victims of their pranks are usually men; women are possessed instead. Common goals of kitsune include seduction, theft of food, humiliation of the prideful, or vengeance for a perceived slight.

Kitsune always keep their promises and strive to repay all favors. Sometimes, a kitsune will become attached to a specific person or household, often causing all kinds of mischief. As long as their host(s) treat them will respect, a kitsune will use its powers to benefit them, but it must be noted that kitsune do not have the same morality as people. For example, they may give their host(s) stolen money.

If a kitsune pays someone with money or other material goods, all or part of the payment will actually be worthless materials such as twigs whose true nature is hidden by an illusion. Kitsune's gifts generally consist of intangible things such as knowledge or protection.

Kitsune are often portrayed as humans, especially when they assume the form of human women. They are often said to make faithful wives, but they are usually forced to leave their husbands when their true nature is revealed. When kitsune have children with humans, the children are humans with special physical or supernatural qualities that they may pass on to their own children.

FUN FACT: Kitsune are said to be particularly fond of a fried sliced tofu called aburage.

Examples in various media:

Vulpix (Pokémon)

Ninetales (Pokémon) Note that Vulpix gains three tails when it evolves into Ninetales, showing its increase in power. Its fur color also changes upon evolving, just like how a kitsune's fur traditionally turns white or gold when it gains its ninth tail.

Kurama (Naruto) Unlike Ninetales, Kurama's fur is not one of the traditional colors for a nine-tailed kitsune's fur. Let this serve as a reminder that people will depict kitsune and other yōkai in ways that stray from tradition at times. That being said, the influence of traditional kitsune lore can be seen in the Naruto franchise. Kurama's host, Naruto, developed a jutsu that allows him to transform into a naked women. This jutsu was clearly inspired by how kitsune are known to transform into women.

Ninetails (Ōkami)

Miles "Tails" Prower (Sonic the Hedgehog)