Kanto Earthquake materials, 1923 and undated
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Summary
- Abstract:
- Materials from the aftermath of the earthquake that struck the Japanese region of Kantō on September 1, 1923. Includes a map of Tokyo and the disaster area; another map of the fire in Tokyo, with text in English and Japanese; a copy of the special issue International Graphic Magazine from September/October 1923; a photo-illustrated pamphlet; 18 postcards with color-tinted photographs; and a scrapbook of photographs and newsprint about the event. An additional 120 postcards, largely black-and-white photographs (some with captions), were added in 2016.
- Extent:
- 2.5 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
146 Items - Language:
- Material in Japanese
- Collection ID:
- RL.00767
Background
- Scope and content:
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Materials in this collection include a mixture of formats documenting the aftermath of the Kanto earthquake. A set of 18 postcards, tinted with color in some cases, contain photographs of wrangled railroad systems, destroyed buildings, evacuees, and mass casualties from the earthquake. And additional 120 postcards with similar content, some with Japanese captions, were added in 2016. There is a photo-illustrated pamphlet, which includes black and white images of the devestated areas. Also included is a copy of International Graphic Magazine, which includes reporting in Japanese as well as images from the disaster. This magazine appears to be missing its back cover. Two special issues of Daishinsai Shashin Gaho, from September and October 1923, include photo illustrations of destruction along with early attempts at rescue and recovery. Finally, the collection includes two folded color maps of Tokyo and the affected area, and a scrapbook of newsprint and printed images from after the earthquake. The scrapbook has been bound as a folio, and its news articles are also in Japanese.
- Biographical / historical:
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The Great Kanto earthquake struck the Japanese island of Honshu at 11:58 a.m. on September 1, 1923. With a magnitude of 8.3 on the Richter scale, the earthquake leveled Tokyo and the surrounding areas of Yokohama, Chiba, Kanagawa, and Shizouka. Along with the destruction of buildings and land, the earthquake resulted in widespread fires, as many people had been cooking their lunch around the time that the earthquake struck. A simultaneous typhoon in Northern Japan led to high winds that caused firestorms in cities across the region.
Estimated casualties from the earthquake and the resulting fires range from 100,000 to 150,000 people. About 2 million people were left homeless. Over the next several years, Tokyo was rebuilt with stricter safety standards, and more parks were added to offer open spaces as refuges. In 1960, the Japanese government declared September 1 to be Disaster Prevention Day.
- Acquisition information:
- The Kanto Earthquake Materials were received by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a purchase from the Boston Book Company in 2007. Its collector is unknown. Additions were purchased in 2016 and 2017.
- Processing information:
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Processed by Meghan Lyon, February 2010; updated 2016
Encoded by Meghan Lyon, February 2010
Updated to include addition by Alice Poffinberger, November 2017
Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 2010-0037, 2016-0046, 2017-0163
Materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
- Physical location:
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Kanto Earthquake Materials, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.