The Fox Barber
In Japanese folklore there is a tale known as The Fox Barber. In a village in Tottori Prefecture there lived a fox named Oton who loved to bewitch people and shave their heads. The leader of the village called a meeting and offered a reward to anyone
who was willing to try and defeat the mischievous fox once and for all. Two young men volunteered and despite many warnings not to attempt such a
task, they set out towards the Tamichi Pass.
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| Shoson Ohara, 1930 |
They saw a large golden
fox ahead and watched in amazement as it put a leaf on its head and
transformed into a beautiful woman. Next the fox woman picked up a stone
Jizo statue and after stroking its head it transformed into a baby. The
two men followed and saw the fox woman knock on a door and be welcomed
inside by an elderly couple. Outraged they wait nearby wondering what to do. When the old lady came
outside they told her what they had seen but she didn’t believe them.
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| Shoson Ohara, ca. 1910s |
The old man also came out and was outraged by their suggestion. They
persisted and suggested the old man throw the baby into a pot to learn
the truth. The old woman was horrified but the man agreed. He went
inside and tossed the baby into the pot. It did not turn back into a statue and the old man was furious that they
has caused him to kill his own grandchild. The men were terrified and
very confused. The old man said he would turn the men over to the
authorities to be killed but just then a priest arrived.
He suggested to
the old man that the two young men become priests so they could spend
their life praying for the baby’s salvation. Everyone agreed so the two
men followed the priest back to the temple where he shaved their heads
and made them priests. Next thing they heard someone calling their names and they realised dawn
had come and they were in a field in the middle of nowhere. When they
saw each other’s shaved heads they were enraged and realised at once
they had been tricked by the fox Oton.
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