EP 133 - THE TAIL'S OF KITSUNE!

Written By Dylan Cantu

There is a legend of a nine tailed fox that lives in Japan. No, I'm not talking about Ninetales, the Pokémon or Kurama from Naruto, but this week's cryptid might be the inspiration for those stories. In Japan there are stories of a nine tailed fox named Kitsune. Depending on who you ask they are either a bringer of peace or a menace enacting revenge. In this week's episode we cover almost everything from anime, the extremes of the Kitsune and how to try and protect yourself. Take a listen to this week's episode and enjoy. 

Ninetales from Pokémon

 

Kurama from Naruto

 

The fox in Avatar the last Airbender

 

The Red Torri Gates from Memoirs of a Geisha

 

The Kitsune in the Toyokawa Shrine

 

A depiction of Tamamo-no-Mae

 

The Killing Stone

 

SOURCE MATERIALS:

For the story:

  1. Stutt, N., & Visitor Services Associate. (2022, February 22). Folk Tails: The Japanese Fox. Drawing Covert. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://nslmblog.wordpress.com/2022/02/22/folk-tails/

  2. Yokai.com. (n.d.). Tamamo no Mae. Yokai.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://yokai.com/tamamonomae/

  3. Japan.travel. (n.d.). Toyokawa Inari (Myogonji Temple). Japan. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1216/

  4. Wright, G. (2022, December 5). Inari – Mythopedia. Mythopedia. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://mythopedia.com/topics/inari

  5. Ernst, D. (2020, August 5). Japan's Most Stunning Inari Shrines – Bokksu. Bokksu. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.bokksu.com/blogs/news/japans-most-stunning-inari-shrines

  6. Yokai.com. (n.d.). Kitsune tsuki. Yokai.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://yokai.com/kitsunetsuki/

  7. Yokai.com. (n.d.). Kitsune. Yokai.com. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://yokai.com/kitsune/

  8. Japanese Oni Masks. (n.d.). What is Kitsune? Types - Tales & Everything You Need to Know. Japanese Oni Masks. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://japaneseonimasks.com/blogs/magazine/what-is-kitsune

For the Image:

  1. The Toshidama Gallery & Senzaburo, I. (n.d.). Kuniyoshi, A Comparison of the Ogura One Hundred Poets 37 - Tamamo no Mae. The Toshidama Gallery. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.toshidama-japanese-prints.com/item_757/Kuniyoshi-A-Comparison-of-the-Ogura-One-Hundred-Poets-37--Tamamo-no-Mae.htm

  2. Tokyo Fox (東京狐). (2011, May 19). Kyoto Filming Locations: Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005). Tokyo Fox (東京狐). Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://tokyofox.net/2011/05/19/kansai-trip-2011-pt-ii-memoirs-of-a-geisha-filming-locations/

  3. Llopis, E., & Kawaii Aichi. (2020, December 16). Toyokawa Inari – Be Mesmerized by the Temple of Thousands Foxes. Kawaii Aichi. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.kawaii-aichi.jp/toyokawa-inari-be-mesmerized-by-the-temple-of-thousands-foxes/

  4. McElhinney, D. (2022, February 5). 6 Things You Should Know About the Inari Fox in Japanese Folklore. Japan Objects. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://japanobjects.com/features/kitsune

  5. Japan Wonder Travel Blog. (2022, November 28). 10 Most Iconic Torii Gates in Japan You Need to See. Japan Wonder Travel Blog. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://blog.japanwondertravel.com/the-most-iconic-torii-gates-in-japan-21808

  6. avatar.neoseeker. (n.d.). File:Librarianknowledgeseeker.jpg. avatar.neoseeker. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://avatar.neoseeker.com/wiki/File:Librarianknowledgeseeker.jpg

  7. Gayathri, T. (2022, October 3). Naruto: Know all about Kurama - The Nine-Tails. FirstCuriosity. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://firstcuriosity.com/anime/naruto-know-all-about-kurama-the-nine-tails/

  8. Kazemi, M. (2022, July 13). Pokemon Go: The Best Movesets and Counters to Ninetales. The Nerd Stash. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://thenerdstash.com/pokemon-go-the-best-movesets-and-counters-to-ninetales/

  9. Lyndsey Green Illustration. (n.d.). Kitsune. Lyndsey Green Illustration. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.lyndseygreen.co.uk/portfolio/kitsune

  10. Marples, M. (2022, April 1). Japanese 'killing stone,' said to contain an evil spirit, has split in two. CNN. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/31/world/japanese-killing-stone-spirit-scn/index.html

Dylan Cantu
Previous

EP 134 - CHAMP!
Next

EP 132 - 1987 UFO OF AURORA, TX!