Kitsune. Japanese fox spirit. It takes on a lot of different roles these days. Kitsune were trickster figures, often benign.
Nine tailed fox. The number of tails is symbolic, just like the number of hands on a Hindu deity stature perhaps. Nine (9) would be the Japanese number of abundance or fullness.
The Kitsune was also a shape shifter so appearing human is well within the lore, though they often kept a “Tell” or tail.
Be well,
Dragon Intuitive
One World, Many Paths