| Naruto is one of the most popular manga and | | | | sometimes they take on the form of a human. |
| anime series around. It features a young boy, | | | | Some tales have them tricking others by changing |
| Naruto, whose body actually contains the spirit of | | | | into human form while others describe them as |
| a fearsome nine-tailed fox that had been | | | | friends or guardians or even wives. |
| terrorizing his village some twelve years earlier. At | | | | A kitsune (the Japanese word for fox) can have |
| that time, this nasty fox was captured and its | | | | up to nine tails, as did the evil fox in Naruto's past. |
| spirit was sealed in the body of a baby boy (our | | | | And from the older stories, it seems that the |
| Naruto). | | | | more tails he has, the more powerful he is. Most |
| Jump ahead twelve years and you've got the star | | | | folk tales state that a fox will grow more tails |
| of the story, now a mischievous and hyperactive | | | | only after it's lived for one thousand years. |
| young ninja with great aspirations. Both Naruto | | | | Interestingly, Japanese folklore originally portrayed |
| anime (animated television shows) and manga (the | | | | the fox as having only good attributes, and their |
| comic book series) go through episodes of | | | | evil and mischievous traits came in with Chinese |
| high-flung adventures battling monsters, other | | | | and Korean folk tales. Some consider the kitsune |
| ninjas and, last but not least, doing ninja exams. | | | | as a deity and they will make offerings to them. |
| Both the manga and anime series have spawned | | | | There are quite a few tales about kitsune, both |
| numerous fan sites and forums, with all manner | | | | good and evil, with foxes shape-shifting into |
| of products available online (screen savers, online | | | | human form (a skill they only acquire after the |
| games, etc.) and for sale (apparel, DVDs, and | | | | age of 100) and then covertly living as part of a |
| more). But what lies behind this popular series is | | | | family until finally being discovered (they often |
| an interesting fact: the story of Naruto is based | | | | seem to have trouble hiding their tails when |
| solidly on traditional Japanese culture. | | | | assuming human form!). |
| Author and artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in | | | | A common belief is that foxes will impersonate |
| Japan in 1974 and it is an area very rich in history. | | | | beautiful women. Early in Japan's history, it was |
| Kishimoto won Shonen Jump magazine's Hop Step | | | | thought that any woman alone, particularly at |
| Award for new manga artists with his manga | | | | night, could actually be a fox. Other stories tell of |
| Karakuri, but he didn't stop there. His first Naruto | | | | fox spirits inhabiting humans: there is even a |
| version was a story of fox spirits and the story | | | | word, Kitsunetsuki, which means "the state of |
| grew. It fast became a most popular ninja manga, | | | | being possessed by a fox." It's been said that |
| in fact one of the most popular in Japan. | | | | humans possessed by fox spirits tend to go mad |
| What may have escaped some western Naruto | | | | and run naked through the streets, among other |
| fans is the interesting story of the fox. Fox | | | | things. |
| myths abound in Japanese culture, dating back as | | | | However, our Naruto isn't evil or nasty. It's easy |
| far as the fifth century B.C. Stories portray foxes | | | | to see, though, how he gets away with so much |
| as intelligent beings possessing magical abilities | | | | mischief. A popular and adventurous story, it will |
| which increase as they age and gain wisdom. One | | | | be that way for generations to come. |
| of their tricks is their ability to shape-shift and | | | | |