Foxes are present across the Japanese archipelago, forming a notable part of the country’s diverse wildlife. They are found in various environments, from dense forests to agricultural lands and urban fringes. Their presence is deeply woven into both Japan’s natural landscape and cultural fabric.
Species and Distribution
Japan is home to two main subspecies of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes. The Japanese red fox (Vulpes vulpes japonica) inhabits Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. This subspecies is smaller than its northern counterpart, measuring 52 to 76 centimeters in body length. They are found in various habitats, including forests, rural areas, and increasingly, suburban and urban environments.
The Ezo red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki) is distributed across Hokkaido, Sakhalin, and the Kuril Islands. This northern fox is larger than the Japanese red fox, reaching 60 to 90 centimeters and weighing 5 to 10 kilograms. Ezo red foxes are well-adapted to Hokkaido’s colder climate, possessing a thicker fur coat. They range widely from grasslands to alpine belts, including urban areas.
Behavior and Adaptations
Japanese foxes thrive in varied environments due to their behaviors and adaptations. They are primarily nocturnal. Their omnivorous diet consists of small mammals like rodents, birds, insects, and carrion. They also consume fruits and nuts, particularly in autumn. City-dwelling foxes may scavenge for human-derived food.
Foxes possess keen senses, including sharp eyesight and acute hearing, which help them detect prey, even small movements beneath snow. Their highly developed sense of smell assists in locating hidden food sources. While solitary, foxes may live in small family groups, with females giving birth to kits in early spring. The young become independent by late autumn. Foxes create lairs by digging holes or tunnels.
Cultural Significance
Foxes hold a significant place in Japanese culture, distinct from their biological reality. In Japanese folklore, these foxes, known as “Kitsune,” are often portrayed as intelligent beings with supernatural abilities. These abilities include shapeshifting into human form, often as beautiful women, and creating illusions. Kitsune are believed to gain more power and grow additional tails as they age, with a nine-tailed fox being exceptionally wise and powerful.
Kitsune are associated with Inari Ōkami, the Shinto deity of rice, agriculture, fertility, and prosperity. Foxes are considered messengers or attendants of Inari, and white foxes are particularly revered as good omens and guardian spirits. Many Inari shrines across Japan feature numerous fox statues, often depicted holding symbolic items like jewels, keys, or rice sheaves. Offerings of fried tofu, believed to be a favorite food of foxes, are common at these shrines.