 In Japan , kitsunetsuki was noted as a disease as early as the Heian period and remained a common diagnosis for mental illness until the early 20th century . Possession was the explanation for the abnormal behavior displayed by the afflicted individuals . In the late 19th century , Dr. Shunichi Shimamura noted that physical diseases that caused fever were often considered kitsunetsuki . The belief has lost favor , but stories of fox possession still occur , such as allegations that members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult had been possessed . 
 In Japan , kitsunetsuki was noted as a disease as early as the Heian period and remained a common diagnosis for mental illness until the early 20th century . Possession was the explanation for the abnormal behavior displayed by the afflicted individuals . In the late 19th century , Dr. Shunichi Shimamura noted that physical diseases <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>that</mark></a>caused fever <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> often considered kitsunetsuki . The belief <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>has</mark></a> lost favor , but stories of fox possession still occur , such as allegations that members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> been possessed . 
In Japan , kitsunetsuki was noted as a disease as early as the Heian period and remained a common diagnosis fir mental illness untill the early 20th century . Possession was the explanation for the abnormal behavior displayed by the afflicted individuals . In the late 19th century , Dr. Shunichi Shimamura noted that physical diseases caused fever was often considered kitsunetsuki . The belief done lost favor , but stories of fox possession still occur , such as allegations that members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult done been possessed .