Welcome to autumn, the spider season. Spiders are everywhere on our island. Should you dare to go hiking or walk the pilgrimage there will be elaborate spider webs, constructed by the best Japanese spider engineers, hanging taut across your every path.

In autumn, even when walking to the grocery store it is advisable to carry a long stick to clear the way lest you come home wrapped in a spider web with an overjoyed spider attempting to eat the largest four-limbed insect he has ever caught. You wouldn't want to ruin his day.

I have learned to live with the spider. Here we have indoor spiders and outdoor spiders, genkan spiders and pilgrimage spiders. Those that hang out in the corners of the living room, just watching, and those that hang out in the toilet, just watching.