In the analysis of Gon the Fox, a well-known and popular work in Japanese children’s literature, I explore the evolving portrayal of the fox within the context of shifting constructions of childhood, informed by changes in Japanese ideals of childhood and educational approaches. While the concept of “a child” emerged in the West alongside modernization and the resulting transformations in families and schools, it took root in Japan in the late nineteenth century through the literary magazine The Red Bird (Akai tori), which also marked the inception of Japanese children’s literature. This magazine featured numerous translations of Western fairy tales. Gon the Fox was first published in this magazine, having been revised by its editor. Subsequently, the story has been adapted in Japanese textbooks, manga, animated versions, and many other media within political, cultural, and educational contexts. The representation and revision of Gon the Fox have been shaped by conceptions of “a child” and educational practices influenced by a Western ideal.