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There are three types (or more) of kitsune in Japanese myths and legends. 1. Kitsune In old days people believed that kitsune (fox) and tanuki (Japanese raccoon) had a supernatural power and often tricked and confused people. They could turn into anything. When they do it they wear a leaf (in rare cases skull) on the head.  Painted by Ohara Koson 2. O-Inari-san Foxes in Inari Shrines are messengers from one of Shinto gods, Ukanomitama. They are usually white and sometimes hold a key, ear of rice or scroll in their mouth.
They can transform into anything but don’t trick people.  Kitsune helping swordsmith Munechika making a treasure sword, drawn by Ryugen 3. Kyubi no Kitsune (Nine tailed fox) Nine tailed fox was an evil monster (some people believed it was a god). It had been trying to destroy the world by tempting and manipulating emperors. It could turn into a beauty and had turned into Dakki in ancient China, Mrs. Kayo in ancient India and Tamamonomae in Japan. they say it was slain by Kazusanosuke Hirotsune in the early 12th century.
 Tamamo-no-Mae in the 12th Century in Japan, painted by Toyokuni Kazusa no Suke Hirotsune killed the fox and it turned into a stone. It belched poisonous air and all birds and animals died that came near it. People called it Sesshoseki (killing stone) and kept away from it.  Kazusanosuke Hirotsune slaying Nine Tailed Fox, drawn by Ryugen Even now it still belches poisonous air in Nasu (a district in Kanto area) and the area surrounding it is off limits.  Tattooist Ryugen They say hannya has four expressions, anger, sorrow, jealousy and agony. Hannya looks like an Oni, but it wasn’t originally an Oni. It used to be a human, a girl who went mad with jealousy and anger.  hannya mask tattooed by Ryugen Hannya mask is a mask used in Noh, one of traditional Japanese plays, for female Oni. For example, “Dojo-ji temple (Anchin and Kiyohime)” is a very popular Noh story that a hanna mask is used.  hannya mask in Dojo-ji temple The summary. Anchin is a traveling monk. Kiyohime fell in love with him though she should have known it was not allowed. He ran away from her. She ran after him. She started to hate him while she was chasing, but still loved him. Finally she turned into a snake with distorted emotions and burnt him to death.  Kiyohime by Yoshitoshi The thing is that Hannya is still in progress. There are four phases, normal, Namanari, Chunari (Hannya) and Honnari (snake).     Which stage is your girlfriend/wife at?  tattooed by Ryugen by Tattooist Ryugen
As you know koi fish is thought to be a symbol of success in Japan. An ancient tale says there is a vigorous upstream somewhere on the Yellow River. The waterfall at the end of the upstream is called the Ryumon-Gate (literal translation is Dragon Gate). Many koi gather around the basin of the Ryumon-Gate. If a koi swims the waterfall up it’ll become a dragon and fly away.  Bakegoi (Dragon fish) The koi gets spiky in progress. Single/double horns grow and the fins get bigger.   The fins turn into wings.  Ouryu (Hiryu) Legs grow. It's called Ouryu in this phase.   The tail gets longer.   Finally it swam the waterfall up and turned into a dragon.  by Tattooist Ryugen
Kirin is a mythological sacred creature known in East Asian cultures. It appears when the king governs in perfect virtues called Jin 仁.  It’s a sign of peace and tranquillity.  It looks like a deer and has a head like a dragon, one-three horns, cloven hoofs like a cow and scales on its body.  Old books say “Ki” is a male, “Rin” female, but it depends on the book.  The birth of Sage Confucius 麟吐玉書 It is said that right before Confucius was born a Kirin appeared and an auspicious scroll came out from its mouth. The scroll said that child of water spirit would become a person who had a virtue of king. His mother put a string on its neck. It left after two nights.  The capture of Kirin 西狩獲麟 One day when Sage Confucius was 72, a Kirin was captured. People were afraid of the weird creature and killed it. Confucius noticed it had the string around its neck and found he wouldn’t be long before he died. He sighed deeply “what have I been doing? I got stuck”. He stopped writing "Spring and Autumn" that was one of five Confucian books.  by Tattooist Ryugen
At shrines and temples you often see a pair of Shishi (foodog), one is with mouth open the other with mouth shut. This rule is not only for Shishi but also for gate keepers, dragons, tigers… Many pairs have mouth open and shut.
This is originally from Ommyo-do (Japanese Yin Yang, based on Taoist theory and mixed with Shinto and Buddhism).
Opened mouth is called A-gyo (pronounced ahh-gyō), means “the beginning”. Closed mouth is called Un-gyo, means “the end”.
If you put a dragon with mouth open on your one side you need to put another one with mouth shut on the other side. This is one of the traditional ways of Japanese tattoos.
 Gate keepers in A and Un at the gate by Tattooist Ryugen
The literal meaning is Chinese lion. Another name is Komainu. Komainu used to have a horn. Nowadays they are mixed and have no deference. And originally they were the same lion from Mesopotamia.  You often see them as a pair of guardians at temples and shrines, one is with mouth open, the other with mouth shut. Only Botan (peony) can go with Karajishi, no cherry blossoms, no maple leaves or no chrysanthemums. Karajishi is the king of animals, symbolizes strong man. Peony is the queen of flowers, symbolizes beauty. Karajishi-Botan is for a man among men, king of kings. Inside themselves they often have bugs that destroy them, called “Shishi shinchu no mushi” that means “betrayers”. They sleep under peonies. Because the morning-dew on the peonies kills the bugs. by Tattooist Ryugen
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