Komainu
Foxes are the most common type of statue that guards Inari shrines in Japan. There are around 30,000 Inari shrines in Japan and each one has two fox statues guarding the entrance. The fox statues often have a sūtra roll, key or jewel in their mouth. The fact that sūtras are Buddhist texts shows that the Inari cult has Buddhist origins. The statues do not represent the foxes' bad behavior but rather their magical powers. Sometimes the fox statues are painted white, as white foxes are thought to be messengers of the kami. Kami is sometimes shown as a fox too. Even though it's uncommon to see, the left fox statue is believed to be male and the right one is believed to be female.