Tsuchi-Gumo (土蜘蛛 Tsuchigumo, lit. Earth Spider) is a spider-like yōkai.
Appearance[]
In the 1996 anime, it resembled ōgumo instead of the traditional chimera-like appearance.
Personality[]
History[]
Saishinban GeGeGe no Kitarō[]
In chapter six, it appeared as a minion of Nurarihyon.
Along with Iwaryū, Dasuza, Cihuateteo, Greenland Evil Spirit, and Nugu, it attacked Kitarō and others when they were playing "Spirit World Hide and Seek" in the caverns.
1985 Anime[]
Tsuchi-Gumo appears in the fourth movie based on the third anime adaptation, GeGeGe no Kitarō: Gekitotsu!! Ijigen Yōkai no Dai-Hanran!!
1996 Anime[]
2018 Anime[]
The Great Yōkai War: Guardians[]
It appeared as a steed of Shuten-Dōji and Ibaraki-Dōji.
Powers and Abilities[]
Transformation
Thread
Body Transmutation:In 1996, it could create a new body as an anti-aging, with bodies of four humans or yokai. However, if a new body is destroyed, it cannot exist in the physical world and would vanish.
Blood-Sucking:In Mizuki's book, it was described to suck and save human blood within its body.
Hidden Claws:
Legend[]
Tsuchi-Gumo, also known as Yatsukahagi and Yamagumo, are giant spider yōkai found all over Japan, they are experts at illusions and can transform into nearly anything.
One of the most well-known stories featuring a Tsuchi-Gumo involved one facing off against famed samurai Minamoto no Yorimitsu. Yorimitsu was stricken with a disease that wouldn't go away for days, no matter how hard he tried to cure himself. After his retainers, the Shitennō, withdrew to their rooms for the night, a large monk walked up to Yorimitsu's bedside and threw a thousand strands of string at him. But Yorimitsu awoke and struck the monk with his sword, Hizamaru. Yorimitsu and his retainers followed the blood trail that the monk left behind, leading them to a large mound in the mountains. They dug it out to find a Tsuchi-Gumo from inside. The Tsuchi-Gumo threw a thousand threads at them again, but they proceeded to slaughter it. Yorimitsu then recovered from his disease afterward and renamed his sword "Kumokiri", meaning "spider cutter".
In ancient times, the word Tsuchigumo was used as a derogatory term for indigenous tribes hostile to the imperial court. The Tsuchigumo were scattered widely throughout the country, but the Tsuchigumo tribe in the Katsuragi Mountains is the most well-known. They were said to be short in height but have long limbs, and were said to have lived in caves. Some stories say that the vengeful spirits of the indigenous Tsuchigumo became the yōkai Tsuchigumo.