
The spider Princess
In 976, Minamoto no Raiko was tormented at night by a monstrous spider, so his retainer, Sakata Kintoki, lodged in the chambers to capture it. The story is told in the play Tsuchigumo.
She doesn't look much like a monster, does she? Sakata has been dozing with his head on a go board. Hearing her noise, He peeks awake as a seductive woman, apparently an apparition created by the spider, glides by She looks more intent on mischief than mayhem, if you ask me....