Do you remember that girlfriend who wants to go wherever you go? Or one who wants to do all the things you are doing? Or maybe, you have met the clingy girl who binds herself to her partner’s hand and shoulder. Well, none of these girls can compare to today’s yokai, Jorogumo. This female arachnid from hell will have you for dinner (as in, you are dinner).
Notably, there are many different arachnid yokai such as the Ushi-oni & Tsuhigumo. But, none of them are as prevalent in game & pop culture as Jorogumo. Stories about these shape-shifting female yokai have been passed down orally in ancient Japanese folklore for centuries. In fact some are written about in Edo perido writings, such as Taihei-Hyaku Monogatari (太平百物語) and Tonoigusa (宿直草).
Toriyama Sekien’s Depiction
Interestingly, in Toriyama Sekien‘s Gazu Hyakki Yagyō, in the entry about Jorogumo (絡新婦) the name is written as “entangling bride”. On the other hand, the content page has the common characters (女郎ぐも) which roughly reads as “whore spider”. Experts say that this is a play of words of kanji pronunciation known as jukujikun (熟字訓). Personally, I believe that the difference alludes to the yokai’s ability to shape shift from spider to woman and somewhere in between.
As seen in the entry of Jorogumo, the yokai is drawn as a humanoid arachnid dressed in a kimono of spiderwebs. She is depicted standing on a sakura tree casting lines of spider silk into the wind. At the end of each web-line is a spiderling that is, seemingly, breathing out vapours of fire or venom.
Legends & Folklore
The Japanese folklore about Jorogumo shows that she usually live at or near waterfalls. The yokai would prey on the creatures that stop by the waterfall basin to drink or simply rest by it. Once her prey’s defenses are down, Jorogumo would cast her web and pull her victim into the falls. In fact, her spider silk is strong enough to pull a resisting wild boar into her lair easily.
However, there are also stories of Jorogumo seducing young men to their death in the falls. Firstly, the spider yokai will transform into an attractive woman dressed in seductive kimono within view of the victim. Next, she secretes sensual pheromones and draws out the lecherous desires of men. When the horny young man is within range, she casts her sticky spider thread. Once bound, Jorogumo easily draws her recently caught meal into the waterfall to dine on later (or even, feed her baby spiderlings).
Modern Accounts
Recently, there are hardly any new stories on or about Jorogumo. Most contemporary accounts are fictional depictions seen in manga, anime and games such as Nioh and Yo-kai Watch. Many speculate that the number of Jorogumo has drastically reduce due to modernisation and deforestation. As such, the number of waterfall-related deaths has also dropped.
However, some experts believe that there are caches of Jorogumo egg sacs hidden behind large waterfalls. All of them waiting for the opportune time to hatch and infest the world.
Nonetheless, be careful when you decide to swim in the rivers and water basin this summer. If you meet a beautiful lady in sexy bikini with spider prints by the waterfall remember the Jorogumo. She will be the clingy girlfriend from hell. You have been warned!
Yokai Details
- name: jorōgumo ( joh-row-goo-moh )
- kanji: 絡新婦 ( じょろうぐも )
- meaning: entangling bride
- abilities:
- web producer — generate spider silk for hunting & mating
- metamorph — able to shape-shift from spider to woman, partially or wholly
- pheromone manipulation — secretes pheromones to induce attraction and pleasure
