Kitsune


 * EDITORS NOTE: What follows here is the barest overview of Japanese fox folklore.
 * It is not, nor is it meant to be, a full account of the Kitsune Myth.


 * The different Japanese folklore stories about foxes are as widespread and varied as rocks in a riverbed. There is no one thing to which you can point and say “there, that is the Kitsune Myth.”


 * Confusing the issue even more is the fact that each different Asian culture has its own unique fox-based myths - each with different names and attributes. 


 * This article deals exclusively with the bare basics of the ancient Japanese folklore on the subject and does not take into account anything published after the 17th century.


 * It should also be noted that Jeff Davis and the Teen Wolf writers will likely put their own spin on these creatures and this article will expand and change to reflect the “Teen Wolf Kitsune Concept” once it becomes known.

Real World Definition
Kitsune is the Japanese word for Fox.

Early portrayals of kitsune cast them as heralds of Inari Ōkami, the god of rice, but in some areas of the country the worship of the foxes became more important than the god they served.

Real World Myth
There is no single, universal concept of kitsune just as there is no single, universal concept of “ghost” or “demon”.

In Japanese folklore, all foxes exhibit some level of magical ability including shapeshifting into people, other creatures, and inanimate objects. These powers increase with age and wisdom.

In ancient stories, some foxes use their magic for good while others are malevolent. They are often portrayed as tricksters. Some of the stories are comical while others are deeply emotional love stories featuring human/fox pairings.

Kitsune in Teen Wolf
Teen Wolf Creator Jeff Davis says he studied Japanese kitsune myths while coming up with the stories for Season 3(b).

How Davis plans to interpret these myths for television remains to be seen.