Hisuain Zoroark Lore: Kitsune Kabuki Ghost!
Hisuian Zoroark is amazing! Not only is it the first (and currently only) Normal/Ghost Pokémon, but it’s also the edgier Zoroark. Yes, I will die on this hill that the Hisuian variant is the cooler one.
Speaking of dying, Hisuian Zoroark is a pretty scary ghost, eh? It just looks fearsome, mysterious, and something straight out of a nightmare. So, let’s explore the creepy origins of this Pokémon that gives sleepless nights to many.
Kitsune
Regular Zoroark is known as the Illusion Pokémon because its whole gimmick is that it uses illusion to appear as different Pokémon. This ability remains in Hisuian Zoroark, but it’s kind of modified to be more shadowy, ghostly, and scarier.
This actually stems from the Japanese folklore fox creature called Kitsune. Even Ninetales is based on the same creature, but each Pokémon derived varying aspects of it.
- Regular Zoroark brings its shape-shifting ability and its personality trait of being a trickster.
- Ninetales is based on the lore that the Kisune grows more and more tails with age, wisdom, and power.
Zoroark’s hair also resembles a fox’s tail, while Hisuian Zoroark’s hair is ghostly wisps that also look a lot like the multiple tails of a Ninetales!
Kabuki
Hisuian Zoroark’s face has markings similar to those found in kabuki masks, commonly seen in Japanese theater performances.
These masks were extremely popular during the Feudal and Edo periods of Japan, which was also when the fox Kitsune masks gained prominence.
Even the color scheme matches Hisuian Zoroark!
These fox masks became very popular, so much that people extensively wore them during festivals, especially the harvest festivals, because foxes are messengers of the god Inari. Inari is associated with rice, agriculture, prosperity, and fertility.
Rice is very important to Japanese culture and society, so a god who protects rice and harvest was obviously revered among people.
The fox mask in question is core to their beliefs since white symbolizes god and red protects against evil. That’s why most Shinto priests would dress in white and red.
Inari is very popular as there are nearly 30,000 shrines dedicated to her.
Additionally, red stripes on the face in kabuki theater depict justice or a hero upholding justice.
Revenge is sweet
The entries in Pokémon Legends Arceus state that Zorua are spirits reborn through the power of malice toward humans and Pokémon. They were driven from other lands (Unova) to the cold terrain of Hisui. We have seen in the anime that Zorua is often mistreated by humans due to its evil reputation.
Doing such atrocities against Zorua is bound to make them vengeful, and revenge is a common theme among the Kitsune. In fact, Ninetales’ Pokédex entries specifically call them vengeful.
And Hisuian Zoroark created frightening illusions that are brimming with so much malice that its victims are driven mad with terror.
There are two main types of Kitsune:
- Zenko
- Yako
Yako is the more malicious of the two, and they often appear to be invisible like a ghost. Zenko has a golden hue and fits Ninetales more.
When Yako attacks humans, they are harmed inside out, causing mental illness, burns, and scratches.
Now, Hisuian Zoroark has golden yellow eyes, and that’s fitting because when a person is possessed by a Kistune, they are said to have the same eyes. Also, when a person is born as a half-human, half-kitsune, they would have the golden yellow eyes.
That’s all there is to Hisuian Zoroark. While its lore isn’t too versatile, it’s still very interesting nonetheless.
If you want to read lore, design, and origin articles of some popular Pokémon that have a lot more to them, then be sure to check these out:
Dragapult | Kommo-o | Darkrai | Cresselia | Applin | Mega Salamence | Dialga & Palkia Origin | Giratina | Rillaboom, Cinderace & Inteleon | Garchomp | Baxcalibur | Hydreigon | Skeledirge | Zygarde | Tinkaton | Gardevoir | Druddigon | Naganadel | Drampa | Enamorus | Wooloo & Dubwool | Hatterene | Morpeko |
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