The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Legend

At the beginning of Meiji era when a means of transportation was not progressed his grandfather went shopping to buy two pieces of fried bean curd by walking six miles. On his way home he heard someone's voice behind him and he stopped to see who it was. But whenever he stopped the voice stopped and he finally reached his home. He thought it strange but hit upon important thing; that is, there is a mountain inhabited by foxes on his way home. To make sure, he left a piece of fried bean curd outside and after a while he looked at the place where he put it. As he expected it had disappeared.

Many people especially Shintoist thought of fox as messengers of God and deified it in the shrine. They offered fried bean curd to the shrine as it was supposed to be the most favorite food for foxes, In most cases in the agricultural area people made shrines in the mountains near each village.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant probably first learned this in Japan.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE