Jorōgumo, Lady of the Waterfall

The myth

The best-known jorōgumo legend comes from Jōren Falls on the Izu peninsula, today's Shizuoka. A woodcutter was resting by the water when strands of web began to wrap around his feet. Suspicious, he transferred them to a tree stump, which was soon torn loose and dragged into the falls. From then on the spider lady was said to live behind the waterfall, and woodcutters avoided the place. In other versions a woodcutter who saw the spider swore secrecy and died when he told the story. The falls are also remembered as the home of a protective deity.

Why it has this power

A Rare level-6 Darkness Insect-Plant with 2250 ATK and 2000 DEF, fusion only: the Young Jorōgumo with any Spellcaster, the spider who learned magic over the centuries. Darkness, Moon and Scarab are the young one's, now with the strength of the mistress of a sacred place.

Did you know

Jōren Falls is one of Izu's most famous waterfalls and is mentioned in a popular enka song called Amagi-goe.

Connections

• Born from the fusion of: Young Jorōgumo of the Hidden Web + Spellcaster

Where to get it

• Born from the fusion of: Young Jorōgumo of the Hidden Web + Spellcaster
• It never joins the collection: you summon it mid-duel, by fusion or ritual.

Sources

1. Kaii・Yōkai Denshō Database (folklore of strange phenomena and yōkai) — International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken)
2. The Database of Paintings of Mysterious Phenomena and Yōkai — International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken)