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The transformation of Tsuchigumo as a derogatory term into a physical monster is fascinating in its own right, but what amazes me so much about Tsuchigumo (and yokai in general) is how subjective they are to their surroundings. The way yokai are defined and thought of are constantly changing and highly dependent on the political, social, and cultural atmospheres at the time they are being talked about. As we saw in my web page, Tsuchigumo have been used in many different ways to represent a certain message or idea. From demonizing a specific ethnic group of people, to warning Japanese citizens not to disobey the Imperial Court, to showing how women are dangerous and not to be trusted, to satire to criticize the Tokugawa Government, Tsuchigumo are an effective metaphorical symbol in Japanese mythology. In this final section of my project, I will list a few additional ways Tsuchigumo have been portrayed throughout time in various forms of popular culture to show just how truly adaptable and subjective monsters can be in demonstrating the world around them.
Tsuchigumo Noh Play
Tsuchigumo Noh Play
The tale of Tsuchigumo-Zoshi was adapted into a very famous Noh Play titled simply Tsuchigumo (Unknown Author, unknown year written). The play first follows the legend of the Tsuchigumo disguised as a servant boy who brings Raiko medicine, only causing him to become more ill. However, the servant boy leaves and an unknown monk visits the bedridden Raiko reciting a poem in the Kokin-shū, "my love will visit me tonight, because a spider…" Raikō realizes the monk is a monstrous spider. The spider then spins out thousands of silk threads to tie Raikō up, but Raikō takes the great sword Hiza-maru and cuts the monster, causing the spider monk disappears instantly.
Raiko's retainers follow the blood spots of the monstrous ground spider to an old mound, which seems to be the nest of the spider. The ground spider appears when they demolish the mound. The ground spider attacks with its silk threads; however, the warriors are able to conquer the beast in an epic battle (Reider, 66).
The Noh Play Tsuchigumo is extremely popular with its main highlight being the scene in which the Tsuchigumo uses Japanese paper threads to represent its silk web. (A video of the famous "spider web dance"taken from YouTube is shown above).
Tsuchigumo in Anime and Video Games
Tsuchigumo in Anime and Video Games
During the semester, we discussed how many yokai in recent years have experienced being "cute-ified" in Japanese popular culture and this is also true for the Tsuchigumo. Although the Tsuchigumo is by no means considered a derogatory term any more, the negative connotation from the word's origin has seemed to follow the portrayal of the yokai over the course of thousands of years. However while doing research, I found that in recent years there has been a shift in the way Tsuchigumo are portrayed in popular culture. While Tsuchigumo are mainly still shown as villains and evil beings in more contemporary forms of entertainment, they are starting to appear in various anime and video games as comical characters or kind-hearted individuals with immense powers, thus causing them to be misunderstood.
Anju to Zushiomaru
Anju to Zushiomaru
Anju to Zushioumaru or "The Littlest Warrior" is a 1961 Japanese animated film by Taiji Yabushita. The film follows two siblings, Anju and Zushio, who are captured and sold into slavery after fleeing from their father. Their kidnapper abuses them, and the brother and sister are subjected to cruel treatment. Throughout the movie, the siblings interact with many mythical creatures including a horrific Tsuchigumo that tries to eat the little sister (Anju to Zushiomaru, 1961).
Arachnus in Yokai Watch
Arachnus in Yokai Watch
Yokai Watch is a very popular anime and video game franchise in Japan. Arachnus appears as a character in both the show and the video game. Arachnus is a humanoid Yo-kai portrayed as having pale peach skin, eyes with light green sclera and yellow irises, red Kabuki-styled face markings, black hair with yellow streaks, and appendages that simulate spider legs and a ponytail at the back of his head. Arachnus is a somewhat comical character, at first seeming very serious and scary but actually having a deep passion for sweet foods. He is shown in a very positive light in the show, befriending main characters and helping them fight against bad yokai (Yokai Watch 2, 2014).
Yamame Kurodani of Tohou Project
Yamame Kurodani of Tohou Project
Toho Project or Project Shrine Maiden, is a series of Japanese bullet hell shooter video games developed by the single-person Team Shanghai Alice. Plots in the Touhou Project games revolve around the strange phenomena occurring in Gensokyo, a fictional realm inhabited by humans and various yokai. Prior to the events of the games, Gensokyo was sealed off from the outside world by a magical barrier. The main protagonist of the series is Reimu Hakurei, a shrine maiden who manages the border, fighting antagonistic yōkai (Tohou Project, 1996).
Yamame Kurodani
Yamame Kurodani
Yamame is a tsuchigumo with the ability of manipulating diseases who first appears in the game as a stage one boss and later as a reoccurring character. She generally prefers not to use her abilities as they cause destruction , and she has an outgoing nature and a love of fighting. Other yokai like her for her bright personality, but humans stay away because of her ability.
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