Kitsune-ken: fox, hunter and village head
Kitsune-ken (狐拳) is a traditional Japanese hand game with three characters: the fox tricks the village head, the village head outranks the hunter, and the hunter shoots the fox. It was a popular game at parties in old Japan.
How to play Kitsune-ken
- Both players take the pose of one character at the same moment.
- Fox: hands up by your head like ears. It tricks the village head.
- Village head: hands on your knees. He outranks the hunter.
- Hunter: hold an imaginary gun. He shoots the fox.
- Same characters are a tie.
Where Kitsune-ken comes from
Kitsune-ken, also called Tōhachi-ken, was played with the whole body, often at parties and banquets, in the Edo period. Like Mushi-ken, it is one of the three-way games that came before janken.
Playing Kitsune-ken on Janken
Kitsune-ken works like janken with characters for hands, so the same strategy applies. Play to the best of 1, 3 or 5 against a bot or online. Kitsune-ken games are casual.
Questions
Who beats whom in Kitsune-ken?
The fox beats the village head, the village head beats the hunter, and the hunter beats the fox.
Why does the fox beat the village head?
In Japanese folklore foxes are tricksters who bewitch people, even important ones.
Can I play Kitsune-ken online?
Yes, for free on Janken, against bots or real players.