Osan Kitsune
Japanese fox folktale
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Osan Kitsune (Japanese: おさん狐, おさんぎつね, romanized: Osan Fox) is a folktale from Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. It describes a fox spirit associated with deceptive encounters, often appearing in human form.[1]
The story is included in published collections of Hiroshima folktales.[2]
Folklore
In the tale, the fox spirit appears as a woman carrying an infant and asks passersby for help. After handing over the child, the figure disappears; the child is later revealed to be a stone.[3]
Associated locations
Several locations in the Eba area of Hiroshima are associated with the Osan kitsune legend. A road known as Osan-dōri (おさん通り) is named after the figure.[4]
The road forms part of the Yokogawa–Eba municipal route, extending from the area near Eba Station to the vicinity of the Eba Tunnel.[4]
A statue of the Osan fox is located near the Eba streetcar stop.[4]
The legend is also associated with the area around Satsuyama Park in Eba.[4]