Osan Kitsune
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]
See also
References
- ↑ "ひろしま文化大百科 - 広島県の民話". www.hiroshima-bunka.jp. Retrieved 2026-05-19.
- ↑ 読みがたり広島のむかし話 [Read-Aloud Hiroshima Folktales] (in Japanese). Tokyo: 日本標準. October 30, 2005. ISBN 978-4820801665.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ "赤ん坊に化けるおさん狐 -広島県の昔話". 民話の部屋 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-05-19.
- 1 2 3 4 "地域の紹介(３)おさん通り／江波地域包括". www.city.hiroshima.med.or.jp. Retrieved 2026-05-19.