Art by Yuko Tatsushima
Tomino's Hell is one of the various poems written by Yomota Inuhiko (四方田 犬彦) in a book called "The Heart is Like a Rolling Stone" (心は転がる石のように), and was included in Saizo Yaso's (西條 八十) 27th collection of poems in 1919. It is known that you must only read it and not say it out loud. If you were to read it out loud then there will be consequences. There is a warning that "If you read this poem out loud, tragic things (凶事) will happen".
The poem was popular in 2ch with people taking photos and videos as proof saying the poem out loud. There's been claims that nothing happened to them. However, some users mysteriously didn't give an update of what happened afterwards. If you were to read it out loud, it's recommended to read the original Japanese version rather than the English translation.
Origins[]
Painting[]
The artwork used for this poem is made by Yuko Tatsushima (立島 夕子) and titled "I cannot be a bride". The artwork was used for this poem for no exact reason and the origin to why it was used for Tomino's Hell. The artwork was made as a vent art after Yuko Tatsushima (立島 夕子) became a victim of sexual assault. According to Japanese traditions, women who lose their innocence often have difficulty with marriage and reputation, hence the title to the painting.
Kanji[]
姉は血を吐く、妹（いもと）は火吐く
可愛いトミノは 宝玉（たま）を吐く。
ひとり地獄に落ちゆくトミノ
地獄くらやみ花も無き。
鞭で叩くはトミノの姉か
鞭の朱総（しゅぶさ）が 気にかかる。
叩けや叩きやれ叩かずとても
無間地獄はひとつみち。
暗い地獄へ案内（あない）をたのむ
金の羊に、鶯に。
皮の嚢（ふくろ）にやいくらほど入れよ
無間地獄の旅支度。
春が 来て候（そろ）林に谿（たに）に
暗い地獄谷七曲り。
籠にや鶯、車にや羊
可愛いトミノの眼にや涙。
啼けよ、鶯、林の雨に
妹恋しと 声かぎり。
啼けば反響（こだま）が地獄にひびき
狐牡丹の花がさく。
地獄七山七谿めぐる
可愛いトミノのひとり旅。
地獄ござらばもて 来てたもれ
針の御山（おやま）の留針（とめはり）を。
赤い留針だてにはささぬ、
可愛いトミノのめじるしに。
Romanji[]
Ane wa chi wo haku, imoto wa hibaku
Kawaii tomino wa tama wo haku
Hitori jigoku ni ochiyuku tomino
Jigoku kurayami hana mo naki
Muchi de tataku wa tomino no ane ka
Muchi no shubusa ga ki ni kakaru.
Tatakeya tatakiyare tatakazu totemo
Mugen jigoku wa hitotsu michi.
Kurai jigoku e anai wo tanomu
Kane no hitsuji ni, uguisu ni
Kawa no fukuro niya ikura hodo ireyo
Mugen jigoku no tabijitaku.
Haru ga kite soro hayashi ni tani ni
Kurai jigoku tani nana magari.
Kago niya uguisu, kuruma niya hitsuji
Kawaii tomino no me niya namida.
Nakeyo, uguisu, hayashi no ame ni
Imouto koishi to koe kagiri.
Nakeba kodama ga jigoku ni hibiki
Kitsune botan no hana ga saku
Jigoku nanayama nanatani meguru
Kawaii tomino no hitoritabi.
Jigoku gozaraba mote kite tamore
Hari no oyama no tomehari wo.
Akai tomehari date ni wa sasanu,
Kawaii tomino no mejirushini.
English[]
His older sister vomited blood, his younger sister vomited fire,
And the cute Tomino vomited glass beads.
Tomino fell into Hell alone,
Hell is wrapped in darkness and even the flowers don't bloom.
Is the person with the whip Tomino's older sister,
I wonder whose blood is on it?
Hit, hit, without hitting
Infinite Hell's one road.
Would you lead him to the dark Hell,
To the sheep of gold, to the bush warbler.
Fit as much as you can into the leather sack,
For the preparation of the journey in the familiar Hell.
Spring is coming even in the forest and the stream,
Even in the seven valley streams of the dark Hell.
The bush warbler in the birdcage, the sheep in the wagon
Tears in the eyes of cute Tomino.
Cry, bush warbler, toward the raining forest
He shouts that he misses his little sister.
The crying echo reverberates throughout Hell.
The fox penoy blooms.
Circling around Hell's seven mountains and seven streams,
The lonely journey of cute Tomino.
If they're in Hell bring them to me
The needle of the graves.
I won't pierce with the red needle,
In the milestones of little Tomino.