Kitsumori is a name rooted in wonder, born from the Japanese words kitsune (狐), the mythical fox, and mori (森), meaning forest. Together, they evoke a spirit of transformation, protection, and the quiet magic of the natural world.

In Japanese folklore, the kitsune is more than a fox, it is a supernatural yōkai, a shapeshifter, a trickster, and a guardian. Revered for its intelligence and magical abilities, the kitsune grows more powerful with age, often depicted with multiple tails—the sign of centuries lived and wisdom earned. These legendary beings are not only playful and cunning, but also deeply protective, especially of those they choose to favor.

Closely linked with Inari Ōkami, the Shintō deity of rice, fertility, and prosperity, foxes are seen as divine messengers. Statues of foxes holding keys in their mouths, symbols of Inari’s grain stores, guard tens of thousands of shrines across Japan. These sacred animals represent abundance, transition, and sacred duty.

Meanwhile, mori, the forest, holds deep spiritual significance in Japanese tradition. Forests are home to kodama, tree spirits, and are places where humans connect with the divine. They symbolize peace, mystery, and life’s cyclical renewal.

At its heart, Kitsumori embodies the harmony between these two powerful forces, the forest and the fox. Inspired by folklore and nature, Kitsumori exists as a quiet celebration of growth, care, and the unseen magic all around us.