
When people talk about Japan, they usually talk about its beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and delicious food. They talk about the cherry blossom in spring, the soft, powder snow in winter, the deep red autumn leaves, and the summers that, while swelteringly hot, go perfectly with a big glass of cold Japanese beer.
What they don’t talk about are the bugs.
Although Japan has nothing on “Don’t Touch That, It’ll Probably Kill You” Australia, it nevertheless has its fair share of creepy-crawlies, and the oosuzumebachi, or Japanese Giant Hornet is perhaps the worst of the bunch. It’s still only April, but it would seem that the Japanese branch of Satan’s striped servants are already out and about, and getting into people’s apartments, no less…
Incredibly aggressive and growing up to two inches in length, oosuzumebachi are responsible for roughly 30 deaths each year in Japan alone, and have been known to wipe out entire bee colonies, leaving pheromones for their buddies to follow while tearing through the poor, innocent honey-makers with their powerful mandibles. Put short, you don’t want to mess around with one of these things.

One afternoon this week, Japan-based musician, producer and martial artist Manny Max noticed something crawling across the ceiling in his apartment. Thinking it to be a cicada, he approached it to get a better look. Seconds later he was out of the room grabbing a giant bucket and, knowing that his friends back home would never believe him when he told them how huge the creature was, his mobile phone to take a short video of it.
It’s Manny’s commentary as he’s trying to deal with the intruder, however, that really made our day and turned a scary, and potentially dangerous, situation into comedy gold.
The audio’s a bit quiet, so be sure to turn your speakers right up for this one. Oh, and as you might expect from a video of a man approaching a potentially deadly hornet in his home, you can expect some NSFW language. Take it away, Manny!
Manny apologises for the vertical video in the captions, but honestly we’re just impressed that he stayed in the room and dared to film the thing; we’d have sealed that room off and been on the phone to our landlord the second we laid eyes on it.
Thankfully, the hornet took the hint and “bounced” before things got messy. It’s probably a good thing it did – we’re not sure the burn-it-with-fire approach would work quite so well indoors…
Stay safe this summer, boys and girls!
Thanks to Manny Marx for the tip and the video.

Twitter user shows us how to make your own pet Japanese giant hornet
YouTube’s AI Japanese translation calls for Jimmy Kimmel’s death on his own show【Video】
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Beautiful exclusive Totoro tenugui towel is a gift from Disney to Ghibli physical media buyers
Brand new Shinkansen bullet train unveiled in Japan… but it won’t carry passengers
Foreign hiker on Mt. Fuji loses consciousness and dies, becoming climbing season’s second fatality
Yakuza members arrested for building a road on mountain they don’t own
Cup Noodle releases cold-water instant ramen in Japan, but can it really be made with just cold water?
Sanrio eco-friendly plushies are here for the earth-conscious lovers of all things kawaii
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
If you love Pokémon and cats, you’ll love Japan’s cat Pokémon cat toys and feeding dishes[Photos]
Japanese government sets up new group to deal with trading card boom
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Japanese convenience store releases Japanese convenience store-flavor fried chicken
Family Mart’s new Tokyo flagship convenience store doesn’t feel convenient, but is that a problem?
Starbucks Japan releases new Discovery Series collection celebrating local regions and traditions
Teen girl in Japan refuses to be victim, personally escorts train pervert to police for arrest
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Is Japan’s tourism boom slowing down? Foreign visitor numbers fall for first time in five years
Evangelion beautifully reimagined as iconic classical Japanese folding screen art series [Photos]
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa