foxy fox fox - kitsune in images #1

Prince Hanzoku terrorized by a nine-tailed fox. Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 19th century http://www.worldsofimagination.com/monster%20Kitsune.htm; Kikukawa Eizan, 'Geisha Playing the Hand-Game Kitsune-ken' http://www.vam.ac.uk/users/node/7318; Kuniyoshi's woodblock print of the legendary kitsune Kuzunoha http://abutterflydreaming.com/2009/05/20/fox-magic-kitsune/; Kitsune no Yomeiri - The Fox's Wedding Series Print by Tachibana Minko and his Circle http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/IX004602/kitsune-no-yomeiri---the-foxs-wedding/?ext=1; Dancing Fox, Ohara Koson (Japanese), c. 1910http://effyeaharthistory.tumblr.com/post/1177190896/dancing-fox-ohara-koson-japanese-c-1910; Kuniyoshi's "Fox Wife Departing" http://endicottstudio.typepad.com/endicott_redux/2007/02/meg_foxs_commen.html; Kunitarō Sawamura II as Kitsune Tadanobu (left) flying over the stage, in the August 1825 production of Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura http://wapedia.mobi/en/Kabuki; (1R) Nakamura Sankô I as Kojorô kitsune (fox); (2R) Kataoka Nizaemon VII as Sengoku Gonpei; (3R) Ichikawa Ebijûrô I as Takechi Samanosuke; (4R) Arashi Karoku IV as Izumo no Okuni; (5R) Nakamura Utaemon III as Nagoya Sanza in Kotobuki Horaisan, Naka Theater, Osaka http://www.osakaprints.com/content/artists/info_pp/hokushu_info/hokushu_13a.htm

At the first meeting of 'Kitsune' the meaning of the club name and symbol was discussed. The pictures above are a small sample of wood block prints depicting kitsune in various forms: fox wives, nine-tailed foxes, and a fox wearing a leaf on his head preparing to transform. Some of these foxes are from kabuki plays. One image depicts geisha in kimono doing the hand actions to a dance about foxes. You will notice that all of these foxes are red or brown not white. White foxes are messengers to the rice and fertility deity Inari.

The 'Kitsune' club logo is taken from a woodblock print by the artist Yoshitoshi and is part of his series One Hundred Aspects of the Moon (1885–1892).

This post is the first in what will hopefully be a series on famous kitsune and foxes. Topics that I hope to cover include: Inari shrines and foxes; foxes in anime and manga; fox wives; foxes in kabuki; Yoshitune senbon zakura; Abe no Seme;