The Japanese word for spider is kumo (traditional Japanese) and supaidā (English loanword). Check the table below for different types of spiders and their translations into Japanese.
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| Romanji | Kanji | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Spider クモ | Kumo | 蜘蛛 | |
| Spider (English loanword) スパイダー | Supaidā | None | |
| Spider web クモのス | Kumonosu | 蜘蛛巣 | |
| Redback spider セアカゴケグモ | Seakagoke gumo | 背赤後家蜘蛛 | |
| Joro spider ジョロクモ | Joro gumo | 上臈蜘蛛 |
Interesting facts about spiders in Japan
Are there any poisonous spiders in Japan?
For thousands of years Japan has been home to many different spider species with none of them being poisonous. That changed fairly recently when in 1995 the first Australian redback spider was discovered in Kawasaki City. This poisonous spider is believed to have made its way to Japan from Australia onboard a cargo ship. Their numbers since then has dramatically increased. Read more here.
What do spiders symbolize in Japan?
Spiders are often mentioned throughout Japanese folklore, and are sometimes depicted as shape-shifters and tricksters. Other times they are associated with transformation and rebirth. Their symbolism within Japanese culture are thus complex and multifaceted, and can be portrayed as both positive and negative, depending on the context.
Many people in Japan see spiders as connectors between this world and the afterlife. It’s also believed to be good luck if one sees a spider in the morning and bad luck if one sees a spider at night.