Deep in the forests and abandoned temples of Japan, legend tells of the Jorōgumo; the "binding bride," a spider yōkai capable of shapeshifting into a stunningly beautiful woman. According to folklore, a jorōgumo is a spider that lives for centuries, gaining magical powers once it reaches four hundred years of age. In her human form, she lures unsuspecting travelers; often lonely men, with beauty, music, or the promise of companionship. Once her victim is entranced, she binds him with silk threads finer than a hair yet stronger than steel, and slowly drains his life essence, feeding on him at her leisure. Some tales soften her image: sitting by a waterfall in Jōren Falls, Shizuoka, playing a biwa (Japanese lute) to enchant listeners, or appearing in old ghost stories as a devoted, tragic figure rather than pure predator. Others make her a straightforward monster, a warning to men wandering too far from home after dark. The jorōgumo remains one of Japan's most endur...