On September 1, 1923, an unprecedented disaster struck the capital region. The earthquake was not merely a natural disaster; it also had a profound effect on society, politics, and ideas.
Basic Knowledge
At 11:58 a.m. on September 1, 1923, a major earthquake of magnitude 7.9, whose epicenter was in Sagami Bay, occurred. This was the Great Kanto Earthquake. The number of dead and missing was approximately 105,000. Because many households were using fire for lunch, fires spread and burned Tokyo and Yokohama. Amid the confusion, false rumors such as “Koreans have poisoned the wells” spread, and many Koreans and Chinese were massacred by vigilante groups, the military, and the police (Korean Massacre Incident). Socialists such as Osugi Sakae and Ito Noe were also killed by military police (the Amakasu Incident), so the confusion caused by the earthquake produced political victims as well.
Mobo and Moga Modern boys and modern girls (short hair and Western clothing)
Cultural residences Houses combining Japanese and Western styles, with parlors
One-yen book series Complete works costing one yen per volume (Kaizosha’s 『Complete Works of Modern Japanese Literature』 from 1926-)
Radio broadcasting Began in 1925 (Tokyo Broadcasting Station)
Motion pictures Spread of movie theaters, silent films → talkies
In Depth (Background and Effects)
After the earthquake, Goto Shinpei (Minister of Home Affairs) formulated a large-scale plan to rebuild the imperial capital. Land readjustment, major roads, parks, and bridges were developed, creating the basic structure of present-day Tokyo. Earthquake bills placed a heavy burden on the economy and led to the Financial Panic of 1927 (triggered by a careless remark by Finance Minister Kataoka, and the failure of Taiwan Bank). Urbanization, which had already been progressing before the earthquake, also brought about the appearance of salaried workers and working women (bus conductors and telephone operators). Cafés lined Ginza, and mass culture flourished. In literature, Akutagawa Ryunosuke wrote 『Rashomon』 and 『The Nose』, Shiga Naoya wrote 『A Dark Night’s Passing』, and Mushanokoji Saneatsu (the Shirakaba school) was active.
- Great Kanto Earthquake = September 1, 1923, M7.9, approximately 105,000 dead
- Korean massacres caused by false rumors; Osugi Sakae Incident (Amakasu Incident)
- Goto Shinpei = president of the Imperial Capital Reconstruction Board
- Beginning of radio broadcasting = 1925 (the same year as universal suffrage)
- Mass-circulation magazine 『King』 (1925, Kodansha, one million copies)
- Shirakaba school = Mushanokoji Saneatsu and Shiga Naoya; humanitarianism
Points of Caution (Easily Confused)
① Distinguish the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923), the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (1995), and the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011) by their years and characteristics. ② Goto Shinpei (earthquake reconstruction, former mayor of Tokyo) and Goto Shojiro (Meiji-era Liberal Party) were different people. ③ Organize the three financial crises by year: the Financial Panic (1927), the Showa Financial Crisis (1930), and the Great Depression (1929). ④ Do not confuse the beginning of radio broadcasting (1925) with the beginning of television broadcasting (1953).
Practice
- Give the date on which the Great Kanto Earthquake occurred.
- Who was the Minister of Home Affairs who led earthquake reconstruction?
- In what year did radio broadcasting begin in Japan?