Kevin TEMBOURET - Japanese folklore and Yokai: Kitsune, little stories and legends of Japan

Appearance :

Miyazaki Prefecture

A mountain fox and a Tanuki (Yokai raccoon) from a bamboo grove were famous for their cunning. One day, a child named Hysunbo asked them to determine which of the two was more gifted. Their pride took over and they accepted the challenge!
During an autumn festival, the boy wandered among the other humans while the two Yokai had to steal a box from his bag. For a whole day the two Yokai tried to steal it from him but without success! The boy was much smarter.
A second test was then organized. They had to break into an old man's house and steal his evening meal without him noticing. The old man was not hungry, so he did not eat all night. A godsend for the Yokai! They had plenty of time to steal food. But again, impossible! The old man had an eye!
The next morning, Hysunbo went to see the two Yokai while eating the old man's food. The Kitsune and the tanuki were furious and frustrated! So they went their separate ways while the child was laughing at them with his throat out.

Appearance :

Yamagata Prefecture

A long time ago, a beautiful young girl was possessed by a Kitsune. The whole village knew it and no one could do anything about it. One day, a monk passed by and was asked if he was able to scare the Kitsune away. He said yes.
When he was introduced to the girl, he took out a scroll and recited an incantation. In an instant, the fox let go of the girl and left.
Everyone was reassured! But one night, while the monk was sleeping, a fox tried to steal his incantation. Bad luck, he was caught red-handed! So the fox begged him not to kill him. The two people talked for a while, until they liked each other: the monk offered tea to the Kitsune and the Yokai showed him a funny picture (a fox was doing acrobatics on a tight rope). The Kitsune twisted himself laughing! Then after a while, he inadvertently
dropped the lid of the teapot and it broke on the ground.
The monk was sad and the Kitsune regretted it. Then the Kitsune pulled a grain of rice out of his thick hair and put it in the teapot. He then said, "My friend, forgive me for this unintentional act. To show my kindness to you, I offer you this grain of rice. If it stays in the teapot, then you will not need to put water in it anymore. It will fill itself every morning.
The two friends smiled and the Kitsune left.
It is said that this teapot is still in the Jokeiin Buddhist temple today.

Appearance :

Nagano Prefecture

In Nakano, an old woman said she saw a strange procession in the dark of night. When she was returning home from shopping in the village next door, many lanterns began to twirl among the trees in the forest.
The old lady stopped, landed on the ground and began to contemplate this supernatural event. After a while, she took out a cigarette and lit it. At the sound of the lighter, all the lanterns had disappeared. As if nothing had happened.
It is believed that it was a procession of Kitsune, marching through the dark forest.