Kiriko

Kiriko
Kanji	凶(キ)狸(リ)狐(コ)()()()()()()()
Kana	キリコ
Rōmaji	Kiriko
Statistics
Primary Ability	Shapeshifting and Flight
Located in	Lone Pine Tree near Dolle Harbor
Debut
Manga Debut	Chapter 4
Anime Debut	Episode 5 (1999) Episode 2 (2011)

Kiriko (凶(キ)狸(リ)狐(コ)()()()()()()() or キリコ, Kiriko) are Magical Beasts that can change their own physical appearance.

Appearance

File:Kiriko 2011 Design.jpg

Kiriko's 2011 anime design

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Plot

Hunter Exam arc

A family of Kiriko located near a lone pine tree outside of Dolle Harbor serve as navigators to the examination site for the Hunter Exam. During the 287th Hunter Exam they used their shapeshifting abilities in order to pretend to be a human family under attack by Kiriko in their natural form to test Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio. They are impressed with Gon's superhuman senses, Kurapika's knowledge of ancient symbols, and Leorio's kindness and skill in treating the supposedly injured man. Because of this they agree to take the three to the site of the Hunter Exam.

Greed Island arc

Kiriko leading Killua to the 288th Hunter Exam

They later guide Killua to the examination hall during the 288th Hunter Exam upon learning of his friendship with Gon. They are very eager, at that time, to hear of Gon's adventures, sighting the fact that they "miss the lad."

13^th Hunter Chairman Election arc

Kiriko in the Zoldyck estate

The Kiriko son poses as Gotoh after his death, possibly so that Killua won't know that he was killed.

Trivia

• In Chapter 4 and 5, and also in other Hunter × Hunter media/products, "Kiriko" appears written with the base kanji 凶狸狐 that can be read as きょうりこ (Kyōriko—lit. meaning "Misfortune Raccoon Fox" or simply "Naughty Fox"), very similar to these Magical Beasts' name and possibly where it comes from. This usual version of the name uses the kanji for "raccoon dog" (狸, tanuki) and "fox" (狐, kitsune), in the Japanese folklore the former being reputed as "mischievous and jolly, a master of disguise and shapeshifting" and the latter as having magical abilities like "shape shift into human form" to trick others—as foxes often (but not always) do in legends, which indicates the main sources of inspiration for this creature.
• Gon claims that despite the parents' resemblance to each other, they actually look nothing alike and even sound different. In fact, in the manga it is possible to see that one of them has a thinner face, bigger eyes, and whiskers all of the same length.
  • However, these differences can only be noticed by the likes of Gon — individuals with enhanced senses and great skills of perception. For people with normal or slightly heightened senses like Leorio and Kurapika, the difference is so small that it was impossible for them to tell the wife from the husband.
• In the English dub of the 2011 anime, Tom Fahn voices the parents, Kyle Hebert voices the son, and Deborah Gatton voices the daughter.