Jorogumo

Kanji: 絡新婦 (or 女郎蜘蛛)
Kana: じょろうぐも
Pronunciation: Jorogumo (Joh-roh-goo-moh)

TRANSLATION: Entangling Bride / Prostitute Spider
ALTERNATE NAMES: None
ORIGIN: Edo Period Folklore

HABITAT: Forests, waterfalls, abandoned temples
DIET: Humans (men)

ABILITIES:

• Shapeshifting (beautiful woman)
• Controlling spiders
• Strong webs
• Venom

WEAKNESSES:

• Mirrors (reveal true form)
• Fire

OVERVIEW: The Jorogumo is a giant spider yokai that can transform into a beautiful woman. It lures men into quiet places, seduces them, and then binds them in sticky webs to devour them later.

APPEARANCE: In its true form, it is a giant Golden Orb-weaver spider. As a human, she is a stunningly beautiful woman, often playing a biwa (lute) by a waterfall. Sometimes she holds a bundle that turns out to be spider eggs.

BEHAVIOR: She is a cunning predator. Unlike feral beasts, the Jorogumo is intelligent and calculating, often maintaining her disguise for years. She preys on young, handsome men who are looking for love.

INTERACTIONS: Encounters usually start with a mysterious woman asking a favor or playing music. If the man stays, he is trapped. Some legends tell of men who outsmart her by tying her thread to a stump instead of their leg.

OTHER FORMS: Giant spider.