thumb|The moon on Musashi Plain (fox) by [[Tsukioka Yoshitoshi]]
The , in popular Japanese folklore, is a fox or fox spirit which possesses the supernatural ability to shapeshift or bewitch other life forms.
General overview
left|thumb|This ('monster card') from the early 19th century depicts a . The associated game involves matching clues from folklore to pictures of specific creatures.
, though literally a 'fox', becomes in folklore a 'fox spirit', and a type of . They are ascribed intelligence and magical or supernatural powers, especially with long-living foxes.
The kitsune exhibit the ability of , or transforming ones shape and appearance, like the tanuki