 A kitsune may take on human form , an ability learned when it reaches a certain age — usually 100 years , although some tales say 50 . As a common prerequisite for the transformation , the fox must place reeds , a broad leaf , or a skull over its head . Common forms assumed by kitsune include beautiful women , young girls , or elderly men . These shapes are not limited by the fox 's age or gender , and a kitsune can duplicate the appearance of a specific person . Foxes are particularly renowned for impersonating beautiful women . Common belief in medieval Japan was that any woman encountered alone , especially at dusk or night , could be a fox . Kitsune @-@ gao or fox @-@ faced refers to human females who have a narrow face with close @-@ set eyes , thin eyebrows , and high cheekbones . Traditionally , this facial structure is considered attractive , and some tales ascribe it to foxes in human form . Variants on the theme have the kitsune retain other foxlike traits , such as a coating of fine hair , a fox @-@ shaped shadow , or a reflection that shows its true form . 
 A kitsune may take on human form , an ability learned when it <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>reaches</mark></a> a certain age — usually 100 years , although some tales say 50 . As a common prerequisite for the transformation , the fox must place reeds , a broad leaf , or a skull over its head . Common forms assumed by kitsune include beautiful women , young girls , or elderly men . These shapes are not limited by the fox <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>age or gender , and a kitsune can duplicate the appearance of a specific person . Foxes <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>are</mark></a>particularly renowned for impersonating beautiful women . Common belief in medieval Japan was that any woman encountered alone , especially at dusk or night , could be a fox . Kitsune @-@ gao or fox @-@ faced refers to human females <a href='null_relcl' title='4'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='got' title='5'><mark>have</mark></a> a narrow face with close @-@ set eyes , thin eyebrows , and high cheekbones . Traditionally , this facial structure is considered attractive , and some tales ascribe it to foxes in human form . Variants on the theme have the kitsune retain other foxlike traits , such as a coating of fine hair , a fox @-@ shaped shadow , or a reflection <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>shows</mark></a> its true form . 
A kitsune may take on human form , an ability learned when it reach a certain age — usually 100 yrs , although some tales say 50 . As a common prerequisite for da transformation , the fox must place reeds , a broad leaf , or a skull ova its head . Common forms assumed by kitsune include beautiful women , young gurls , or elderly men . These shapes ain't limited by the fox  age or gender , and a kitsune can duplicate tdaappearance of a specific person . Foxes particularly renowned fir impersonating beautiful women . Common belief in medieval Japan was dat any woman encountered alone , especially at dusk or nite , could b a fox . Kitsune @-@ gao or fox @-@ faced refers to human females got a narrow face with close @-@ set eyes , thin eyebrows , and high cheekbones . Traditionally , this facial structure is considered attractive , and some tales ascribe it to foxes in human form . Variants on thdaheme have the kitsune retain other foxlike traits , such as a coating of fine hair , a fox @-@ shaped shadow , or a reflection show its true form .