Chirin’s Bell (Ringing Bell)

by Yanase Takashi

This post is very image-heavy.



After 100000 years, I’m finally done translating this book.

A quote mentioned by Kaneki during Arima’s death and the quote used for that one illustration of Arima, which you can view here, is from the book version and the line wasn’t really in the movie. There are also a couple of differences between the book and movie which you’ll notice as you go along the story.

This is a children’s book btw. Trust me, it is.



I will not be putting the full images here for certain reasons but if you want to purchase the book, you can do so here.



With Chirin’s bell, one can remember those gentle eyelashes and smile.

With Chirin’s bell, one can remember the loneliness and sadness in this world.

Chirin is young lamb who was born in spring.

A yellow bell is strapped around Chirin’s neck so that one will be able to know where Chirin is even if he falls down to the bottom of the valley. The bell rings as the wind blows.

“Don’t go too far. You’ll be eaten by the wolf.” Chirin’s mother warned.

“Sheep have really fluffy hair so it makes them hard to eat!” Chirin replies. “The green grass tastes so much better.”

“But the wolf eats sheep.”

“Really?”

Chirin didn’t really understand what his mother was saying.

North of the meadows are mountains that had a frightening shape. Within those mountains lived a wolf named ‘Uo’.



Uo’s howls were carried by the wind and can be heard all the way in the meadows.

One night, Uo the wolf went down from the mountains and attacked the meadows Chirin lived in. A desperate struggle to death continued in the midst of darkness.

Chirin’s mother protected Chirin by putting him under her stomach.

Chirin climbed up the rocky mountains Uo resided in while crying.

While dozing off after filling up his stomach, Uo felt like he heard a bell chiming in his dream and opened his eyes.

“Who are you?”

“I am Chirin the sheep. I want to become a strong wolf like you. Please make me your pupil.”

Uo, who was always hated, felt like his heart warmed up inside upon hearing those words.

Chirin then became the wolf Uo’s pupil. The harsh training went on and on everyday.

“That’s no good at all. Try howling.”

“Yes, teacher. Meeeeh.”

It seemed impossible for a sheep to become a wolf.

And then spring passed,

summer passed,

even autumn passed,

and winter passed too.

Small horns popped out of Chirin’s head as he gradually grew stronger.

“I won’t lose. I will become stronger than the wolves.”

After three years, Chirin no longer looked like a sheep and instead, become a fearsome beast.

Chirin is still wearing the same bell from the past but now, when one hears the sound of that bell, they cowered.

Chirin and Uo were known by everyone as a team who caused chaos and was feared.

“Listen, Chirin. We’ll attack the sheeps’ meadow tonight.”

“Sounds good. We’ll always be together even in death.”

A fierce storm brewed up that night. Chirin followed the storm and descended.

“I’ll first take out the dog. Once you hear the dog’s cry, attack the sheepfold, Uo.”

Saying that, Chirin’s form disappeared into the darkness.

Soon enough, a dog’s piercing cry was heard from the sheepfold.

“Now!”

Uo followed and descended. However, right before reaching the sheepfold, a black shadow jumped out of the bushes and attacked Uo.

A blue flash of lightning struck, illuminating Chirin.

“Ah, Chirin. How could you betray me like this?”

“My mother was killed by you. This is revenge for my mother.”

“What?!”

“I’ve been looking forward to this day. I’ve worked so hard to become stronger than you. Die, Uo.”

Chirin’s sharp horns went through Uo’s chest. Uo weakly opened his eyes and spoke.

“I’ve always looked forward to this day where you’d do this to me. I’m glad it was you who killed me. I’m happy.”

When the stormy night subsided, Chirin’s head hung low on top of the cliff of a rocky mountain.

“I’ve gotten revenge for my mother. But my heart doesn’t feel any lighter. Please forgive me, Uo.”

“I’ve first realized it when you died. That you were my teacher and my father. And somewhere along the way, I had come to love you.”

“I can no longer return to being a sheep.”

With tears in his eyes, Chirin crossed the mountains and went off.

Now, there are times where one can hear a faint chime of a bell during a stormy night.

However, no one has seen Chirin ever again.