Jorōgumo: The Deadly Spider Woman from Yokai Lore

Ararchnophobics beware—this shapeshifting female spider monster from Japan might be your worst nightmare. A type of yōkai, or any weird or supernatural creature or phenomena in Japanese folklore, this supernatural creature is both beautiful and deadly. Although able to appear as a beautiful young woman, the jorōgumo is really a deadly spider monster in disguise. But why is this monster exclusively female?

This episode dives into the fascinating world of yōkai and the long history of beautiful women and spiders in Japanese folklore. You’ll learn about the real-world spider that may have inspired this monster, and discover two of the oldest recorded jorōgumo stories in existence.

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