Tomino's Hell
A Japanese poem from 1919 comes with a warning: read it aloud, and misfortune will follow. Some say worse.
What was reported
'Tomino's Hell' is a poem by the Japanese poet Saijō Yaso, published in a collection in 1919. It tells, in strange, dreamlike verses, of a boy named Tomino who falls into hell, wandering alone with a whip and a little bird.
In the 2000s, a legend spread online that reading the poem aloud brings bad luck, illness or even death. People shared stories of feeling unwell or having accidents after trying it, and videos of people reading it became a dare.
Explanations offered
The legend seems to have grown from a remark in a book about Saijō's work, which said reading the poem could bring trouble. It's a modern internet legend, like other 'cursed' texts and videos. The poem itself is a respected, if dark, work by a well-known poet and songwriter.
- When
- Published in 1919; legend from the 2000s
- Where
- Tokyo, Japan
- Witnesses
- Japanese internet users
- Status
- Urban legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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