Japanese proverb of the day: “Even the judgement of hell depends on money” — a reminder that while money may not control everything, it can have a powerful influence on opportunities, decisions and justice

What if even the judgement of hell could be influenced by money?

That is the unsettling idea behind one of Japan’s most memorable proverbs: “Jigoku no sata mo kane shidai). Literally translated, it means “Even the judgement of hell depends on money.”

The image is deliberately provocative. Hell is supposed to be the place where souls finally face judgement based on their actions, yet the proverb imagines that even this ultimate verdict might have a price. Its message is not about the afterlife, but about the world of the living — and the uncomfortable possibility that wealth can influence decisions, opportunities and even justice.


Centuries after the saying emerged in Japan, its central idea continues to resonate. From politics and healthcare to education, legal battles and social status, the relationship between money and power remains a subject of debate across societies.

What does the Japanese proverb mean?

The phrase “地獄の沙汰も金次第” literally translates as “Even the judgement of hell depends on money.”

The key word is “沙汰” (sata), which in this context refers to a judgement, verdict or decision. Japanese dictionaries describe the proverb as expressing the idea that even the judgement in hell could supposedly be influenced by money.

The saying is not meant to be understood literally. Instead, it offers a cynical observation about human behaviour and society. It reflects the belief that wealth can influence decisions, create opportunities and affect how people are treated, even in situations where fairness should ideally prevail.

In that sense, it is broadly comparable to the English expression “Money talks”.

Where did the proverb come from?

The exact origin of the saying remains unclear. Linguists and historians have not traced it to a particular writer, incident or historical event.

Its imagery, however, is rooted in traditional Japanese Buddhist ideas about the afterlife. According to Buddhist folklore, after death, a soul crosses the Sanzu River before appearing before Enma, the judge of the dead. Enma determines the soul’s fate based on its actions during life.

The proverb takes this image of divine judgement and turns it on its head by imagining that even such a supposedly impartial verdict could be influenced by money.

Some scholars have also linked the expression to social conditions during Japan’s Edo period, from 1603 to 1868. Historical references suggest that money could affect treatment in areas such as prisons, pleasure quarters and religious institutions through donations and offerings.

As a result, the proverb can be viewed not as a religious teaching but as a form of social criticism.

More than a proverb, a commentary on society

Unlike traditional sayings that promote values such as honesty, hard work or perseverance, this proverb does not offer a straightforward moral lesson.

Instead, it raises an uncomfortable question: can justice ever remain completely impartial when wealth is involved?

The question has persisted across generations. In societies around the world, people have long observed that those with greater financial resources can have access to better legal representation, education, healthcare and influence.

The proverb compresses that observation into one striking image: if money can supposedly affect judgement in hell, what prevents it from affecting decisions in everyday life?

Importantly, the saying is not praising wealth. It is criticising situations in which financial power can become more influential than fairness.

Why has the proverb survived for centuries?

Many traditional sayings fade as the societies and circumstances that produced them change. This one has endured because the issue at its centre remains familiar.

Debates over campaign financing, lobbying, access to justice, healthcare costs and economic inequality continue in countries across the world. Wealth does not necessarily determine every outcome, but financial resources can create advantages that others may not have.

That enduring tension helps explain why the proverb continues to appear in Japanese writing and conversation whenever money appears to carry more weight than principle.

How is it used today?

Modern Japanese speakers can use the expression ironically to comment on situations where money appears to provide an advantage.

For example, it could be used when a wealthy defendant hires an expensive legal team, when access to an elite university depends heavily on financial resources, or when a business opportunity appears to favour financial influence over merit.

In such situations, someone might simply say: “地獄の沙汰も金次第.”

The expression often carries a tone of resignation rather than approval. It acknowledges an uncomfortable reality while leaving open the question of whether that reality is fair.

What can modern readers take from it?

The proverb is ultimately less about hell than it is about people and society.

It reflects a centuries-old concern over the tension between justice and wealth. Laws may promise equality, but institutions are shaped and operated by people, and financial resources can create advantages within them.

The saying does not claim that money can control everything. Instead, it warns that wealth can influence outcomes in ways that are sometimes difficult to ignore.

Perhaps that is why “地獄の沙汰も金次第” has remained relevant for so long. It offers neither comfort nor optimism. Instead, it delivers a blunt observation about human society — money may not be able to buy everything, but history suggests it can influence far more than people would like to admit.