Foxes (kitsune - 狐)

Foxes are important in the Japanese folklore. They are considered as intelligent creatures with magic powers. Satues of foxes are often found in Shinto shrines as they are regarded as messengers of Inari, the god protecting harvests. The spirit fox can have more than one tail depending on how old and wise he is (a tail for every hundred years !).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune

http://turning-iwatean.blogspot.com/2009/05/japanese-myths-and-mythical-creatures.html

http://www.coyotes.org/kitsune/kitsune.html