Kitsune

The kitsune (狐, pronounced ki-tsu-ne) is a mythological fox native to Japanese folklore. The word "kitsune" literally translates to "fox" in Japanese, but within the context of Japanese mythology and religion, it specifically refers to a type of intelligent fox spirit or fox demon that possesses supernatural abilities such as shape-shifting, invisibility, and illusion-casting. In Hebrew, the word for fox is שועל (shu'al), though there is no direct translation for the specific concept of kitsune. In Korean, a similar creature is known as 구미호 (gumiho), which translates to "nine-tailed fox," and in Chinese, it is called 狐狸精 (húli jīng), meaning "fox spirit." Kitsune are often depicted as intelligent, intelligent, and possessing a strong connection to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. They are typically portrayed as tricksters, but some folktales also depict them as protectors of the rice fields and the Inari shrines. Kitsune have become prominent figures in modern Japanese popular culture, appearing in various forms of media such as anime, manga, and video games.