
The Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is lined with sculptures of foxes, called “kitsune” in Japanese. The fox often serves as Inari’s messenger, and that’s reflected at the shrine to Inari where the kitsune is a vital presence throughout the grounds. It's tradition at Shinto shrines to write down a wish—at the Fushimi Inari Shrine, wishes are written on one side of a wooden fox ornament, and on the other side, you can draw the fox’s face. The First Lady filled out both sides of her fox (pictured center).
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