| Kitsune | |
|---|---|
| Type | Monsters |
| Lore Origin | Japanese Folklore |
| Seasons | S3, S7 |
| Kill Method | Stab to the Heart |
Kitsune are creatures that appear fully human but carry a fox-like nature within them. They live among humans for years, holding jobs and maintaining relationships, and can go long stretches without killing — but they must periodically feed on a specific part of the human brain, the pituitary gland, in order to survive. This requirement makes peaceful coexistence with humans permanently unstable.
Appearance & Abilities
Kitsune appear completely human under normal circumstances. Their true nature is visible only in their eyes, which display a distinctive fox-like golden shimmer when they use their abilities or when caught in the right light. When feeding, they extend a single long, thin claw from one finger, which they use with surgical precision to access the pituitary gland through the victim's nasal passage or the back of the skull.
They possess enhanced speed and agility, and they are significantly stronger than they appear. Kitsune have long lifespans and age slowly. Like many creatures in the Supernatural universe, they pass their nature genetically — a kitsune's children will also be kitsune.
In Supernatural
Kitsune appeared in Season 7, Episode 3, "The Girl Next Door." The episode used flashbacks to show that a young Sam had befriended a kitsune girl named Amy Pond when they were both teenagers. Amy's mother was killing to feed, and Amy killed her own mother to protect Sam. Years later, Dean discovered that Amy — now an adult and a mother herself — had resumed killing to obtain pituitary glands for her sick son. Despite Amy claiming the killings were temporary and necessary to save her child, Dean killed her after Sam had promised to let her go. This act created a major rift between the brothers.
Real-World Folklore
The kitsune is one of the most important figures in Japanese mythology. In Japanese tradition, kitsune are fox spirits with profound supernatural powers that increase with age and wisdom. A kitsune gains additional tails as it ages, with the nine-tailed fox (kyūbi no kitsune) being the most powerful. Kitsune can be benevolent (zenko, associated with the god Inari) or malicious (yako, wild foxes).
Japanese kitsune are master shapeshifters, typically taking the form of beautiful women. They can create illusions, generate fox-fire (kitsune-bi), possess humans, and manipulate dreams. The folklore is rich and varied — some kitsune marry humans and live faithful lives for decades, while others are tricksters or outright predators.
Supernatural takes significant liberties with the concept, reducing the kitsune to a type of monster that feeds on brains. The show's version lacks the mystical and spiritual dimensions of the Japanese original, but captures the theme of a creature that lives among humans in disguise.
Weaknesses
A kitsune can be killed by stabbing it in the heart. This is a relatively straightforward vulnerability compared to many creatures in the bestiary. The challenge lies in identifying a kitsune in the first place, given how effectively they blend into human society. There is no widely known detection method beyond noticing the eye shimmer or catching them in the act of feeding.