This is actually a character that is much older then you would think....this is just one of the only times he has been put down in art form. Originally a mask I created some five or so years ago, he was a kitsune fox that was based partly of of Japanese kitsune masks, especially that of the one on Gaia to which I was a much more avid member at that time.

So yeah he pre-dates Okami, which might seem like the insperation but actually isn't (despite how much I like Okami and all XD)

Only recently though has he gotten a name and a purpose. He is simply known as the Gatekeeper and his main purpose is simply to open the way and yes he can open a keyhole in the sky to travel though....it also took me to long to figure out how to do that keyhole effect. X3