In Japan, various things have been worshiped as gods by people from ancient times. For example, stone, tree and mountain... Japanese thought that gods dwelled in all the nature. Several animals are in this category, too. The foxes are famous as Kenzoku of Inari-sin. [link] Kenzoku serve gods and have the power next to gods.

The wolves are the same as the foxes. Or rather, the wolves are more than the foxes. Several Japanese shirines are dedicated to wolves. [link]

Japanese say wolf "okami". Meaning of "o" is big and great, futhermore "kami" is a god. Okami's another name is "Oguti no Magami". Guti(kuti) is "mouth", no is "of" and ma is "true". That is to say, they were called "a god who have a big mouth".