Medium Fox Statue Granite Gray Stone Sculpture Inari Shrine Handmade Japanese L

Thank you for looking at my item.

Product Description

Gray Fox Inari Shrine Statue carved from Okazaki Natsuyama Stone quarried in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

1997 Model. We will ship the fox shown in the photo. The black parts are biotite.

📏 Product Details

About Tomatsu Stone Works

Stone Carving Works Tomatsu (Tomatsu Stone Works) is a stone workshop founded in 1902. The fourth-generation master, a graduate of an art university, specializes in crafting Buddhist statues, guardian lion-dog statues (Komainu), busts, and dragon sculptures. It is a professional studio that produces these stone artworks upon request from other Japanese stonemasons.

Foxes at Inari Shrines in Japan

At Inari shrines in Japan, foxes (kitsune) are not worshiped as gods themselves, but rather serve as divine messengers of the deity Inari Ōkami, the Shinto god of agriculture, fertility, business success, and prosperity.

What Is an Inari Shrine?

Inari shrines are dedicated to Inari Ōkami, one of the most widely venerated deities in Japan. There are more than 30,000 Inari shrines throughout the country, with the most famous being Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.

Why Are Foxes Present at Inari Shrines?

• Inari is the god of rice and agriculture, and foxes were believed to protect grain from pests like mice.
• Foxes were seen as mysterious, intelligent creatures with supernatural powers.
• Foxes lived in rural and mountainous areas, making them close to both nature and human life—ideal intermediaries between the divine and the human world.

Guardian Fox Statues (Koma-kitsune)

At Inari shrines, a pair of fox statues is typically placed at the entrance or near the main hall. These foxes resemble the traditional guardian lion-dog statues (komainu) found at other shrines, and are often depicted with symbolic items in their mouths:

• Right fox (mouth open / "A" form): Often holding a jewel or key.
• Left fox (mouth closed / "Un" form): May hold a scroll or rice stalk.

This pairing symbolizes the “A-Un” breathing—the beginning and end of all things, a common motif in Japanese religious architecture.

The White Fox Legend

The foxes associated with Inari are often depicted as white foxes, symbolizing purity and divinity. Many legends say that white foxes appeared to humans as messengers of Inari, delivering guidance or performing miracles.

About Natsuyama Stone (夏山石)

Origin: Natsuyama Stone is a type of granite quarried around Natsuyama in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Geological Formation: Formed from magma that solidified deep underground about 60 to 90 million years ago (late Cretaceous to early Cenozoic).
Stone Quality: Characterized by a bluish-gray color, fine grain, and uniform texture, combining beauty with excellent workability and durability.
History: For centuries, it has been widely used by Okazaki stonemasons to create traditional works such as stone lanterns, Jizo statues, and gravestones.

Characteristics of Natsuyama Stone

• Color: A calm bluish-gray tone with a refined and elegant appearance. When polished, it produces a soft luster that enhances its beauty.
• Texture and Composition: Composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica, with fine crystals that allow precise carving. Smooth finish and excellent for detailed craftsmanship.
• Durability: High hardness and strong resistance to weathering. Suitable for outdoor use in gardens, temples, and monuments, maintaining its beauty for decades.
• Common Applications: Stone lanterns (such as Yukimi or Kasuga styles), Buddhist statues and Jizo figures, Gorinto pagodas and gravestones, decorative stones for Japanese gardens.
• Evaluation: Natsuyama Stone is regarded as one of the representative granite types of Okazaki, highly valued throughout Japan. Its refined color and fine grain make it especially suitable for traditional Japanese gardens and cultural architecture.

How about your guardian deity?

This fox statue brings a sense of protection and presence to any space, whether as garden décor or a symbolic ornament.

About the Seller

I am a seller who sells a lot of great Japanese products.

My store is 100% genuine.

I have posted many pictures of the items I sell.

Please see other items if you like.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.