Foxy

Attractive Shinto inari shrine with the traditional fox statues with their eye catching red bibs.

These fox statues hold a symbolic item in their mouths or beneath a front paw — most often a jewel and a key, but a sheaf of rice, a scroll, or a fox cub are all common. If you look closely the one on the left holds a key in his mouth. Almost all Inari shrines will feature at least a pair of these statues, usually flanking or on the altar.

Over a third of all Shinto shrines in Japan are dedicated to inari, the god of general prosperity and worldly success... And sake!

Many Japanese companies have adopted inari as their emblem or patron (a bit like a patron saint) most noticeably the cosmetic giant Shiseido