正体(しょうたい)は鼓の(つづみの)皮(かわ)になった親(おや)を慕う(したう)「源九郎狐(げんくろうぎつね)」で、親の(おやの)近くに(ちかくに)いるために化けて(ばけて)いた

On the journey, Shizuka Gozen was escorted by 'Sato Tadanobu,' Yoshitsune's loyal retainer. However, this Tadanobu possessed mysterious powers, appearing from nowhere to protect Shizuka whenever the drum was sounded. In truth, his identity was not human, but the child of a thousand-year-old fox (Genkuro Fox) whose parents' skin was used to make the drum; he had disguised himself as Tadanobu to yearn for his parents.