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- September 2023 issue of the Great Kanto Earthquake of Yokohama Citizens - Focusing on the records of Jiro Yagiguma (Aya Kasumi)―
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September 2023 issue of the Great Kanto Earthquake of Yokohama Citizens - Focusing on the records of Jiro Yagiguma (Aya Kasumi)―
Yokohama with sea, port, greenery, history, region, people and various attractions. We will deliver the color of this city as "Yokohama Aya Discovery". This time, it is about the Great Kanto Earthquake that occurred just 100 years ago and the disaster experience of Yokohama citizens.
Last Updated October 3, 2023
Please see the link for the contents of the "Public Information Yokohama" September 2023 issue "Yokohama Aya Discovery".
Special Exhibition "Wave the Great Kanto Earthquake 100 Years Over the Great Disaster: Yokohama Citizens' Damage Experience-"
Ritsuto Yoshida, Chief Researcher, Museum of Yokohama Urban History
On September 1, 1923, the Taisho Kanto Earthquake of magnitude 7.9 occurred in Kanagawa Prefecture. The city of Yokohama was hit by severe shaking, many buildings were destroyed in the center of the city, and fires that occurred from 289 locations spread rapidly due to strong winds. Considering that the estimated number of casualties in Yokohama City was 26,623, and the population at that time was about 440,000, about one in 17 died. The citizens of Yokohama, who survived such a catastrophe, left the situation at that time in diaries, memoirs, and sketches.
Jiro Yachigima (Aya Kasumi), a teacher at the former town elementary school in Naka Ward, is one of them. At 11:58 am, Kuma Jiro, who encountered an earthquake at a barber shop in Motomachi 5-chome, wrote in the Great Kanto Earthquake Diary on September 1, 1923, "I thought that the sound of a distant lightning had sounded. "And wrote the situation at the time of the earthquake, as well as in a sketchbook. Jiro Kuma stood the shaking, grabbing Kamoi and the pillar with both hands, but couldn't stand it and jumped out of the back door. Immediately after that, the barber shop will be destroyed. And what plunged into Kuma Jiro's eyes was the destroyed Motomachi and the wounded survivors. This time, we will follow the Great Kanto Earthquake of Yokohama from records left by citizens at that time.
18 Situation at the time of the earthquake drawn by Jiro Kiguma
September 1923 Aya Yagi Kasumiga "September 1923 Kanto Great Earthquake Records" Hiromi Yagi Family Document Yokohama Archives of History Storage
At 11:58 am on September 1st, the situation of Jiro Yagiguma when he was damaged at a barber shop. Kuma Jiro was encouraged by a barber shop landlord, and when he tried to eat lunch in the tea room at the back, he was hit by a violent shaking. From the sketches drawn by Kuma Jiro, you can see falling shelves, large swing lights on the left and right, and falling tableware. The barber's landlady fled the outside with her child, but Kuma Jiro stayed indoors. It is said that the wall soil fell one after another like rain, blocking Kuma Jiro's view.
2 Motomachi immediately after the earthquake
September 1923 Aya Yagi Kasumiga "September 1923 Kanto Great Earthquake Records" Hiromi Yagi Family Document Yokohama Archives of History Storage
Jiro Yagiguma, who fled outdoors, fell and evacuated on the orbit of the Yokohama streetcar. The barber shop fell in the opposite direction of the trajectory. The tremor continued, the telephone pole fell, and the building collided and crushed. Jiro Kuma said in his diary, "The wall soil rose and the sun turned red bronze, and the darkness was like dusk. The ground makes a sound and splits it into an electric light. " Jiro drew a sketch of the collapsed buildings, scattered tiles, curved tracks, and injured.
3 Jiro Hachikima, who conducts rescue operations
September 1923 Aya Yagi Kasumiga "September 1923 Kanto Great Earthquake Records" Hiromi Yagi Family Document Yokohama Archives of History Storage
At the barber shop, a few people were under the building. Jiro Yachigima shouted to the surroundings, "You guys, who will help me?", But the people worked hard to protect their lives. Motomachi was in confusion. For this reason, Kuma Jiro went to rescue operations alone and managed to rescue three people with the help of an old man who was safe in the building, but as the fire approached, leaving people sandwiched between pillars I had to evacuate. At this time, flames were approaching from three directions.
4 burned Motomachi and Nishino Bridge
September 2, 1923 (Daisho 12) Saburo Okamoto Shooted by Yokohama Archives of History Collection
The situation in Motomachi on the day after the earthquake. Jiro Hachikima is photographing Nishino Bridge from the location of the barber shop affected by the disaster. The fire destroyed the entire Motomachi area. The area around the barber shop also has only burnt tin and tiles. The truss part of Nishino Bridge was safe, but the bridge girder and bridge board were burnt down. The city of Yokohama became a burnt field in just one day, but coal and oil storage facilities continued to burn. Bear Jiro, surrounded by flames, fled to the direction of the Yamate Tunnel.
5 View from the hill of Yamate to Kannai.
September 1923 Photographed by Harunosuke Nakano, Museum of Yokohama Urban History Collection
Just above the Yamate Tunnel, from the vicinity of Motomachi Elementary School, overlooking Kannai. You can check the opening commemorative Yokohama Kaikan [1], which is only the outer wall, and the new Yokohamachuo Telephone Office [2], etc. At the left end of the photo is the confluence [3] of the Nakamurakawa and the school Ooka River, and on the right side, the digging river passes toward Yokohama Port. Nishino Bridge [4], a train-only bridge from the upper Horikawa River, is built, and at the right end is the broken Uchida Shipbuilding Iron Works (113 Yamashitacho) [5]. After passing through the tunnel, Kuma Jiro climbed the hill and aimed for Motomachi Elementary School where he worked.
6 First part and sequel to the Great Kanto Earthquake Diary of September 1, 1923
Taisho period Hiromi Yagi family documents stored in Yokohama Archives of History
A diary (experience report) describing the situation from the day before the earthquake to the Tanzawa Earthquake (M7.3) that occurred on January 15, 1924 (Daisho 13). On the cover, there is "Jiro Yachigima, the victim." Part 1 describes in detail the process of fleeing from the disaster in Motomachi to his home (Kamitanmachi, Aokicho), confusion in affected areas, restoration of order, and return to his hometown Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. In the second part, the details of rescue negotiations with Mayor Matsuyama Kazutaka Iwasaki and Governor of Ehime Prefecture Michinosuke Miyazaki are recorded.
The special exhibition currently being held, "Resurving the Great Kanto Earthquake 100 Years Great Disaster-The Experience of the Damage of Yokohama Citizens-(External Site)" reproduces the Great Kanto Earthquake in Yokohama from records left by citizens. We hope that you will be able to widely know the state of the catastrophe that hit Yokohama 100 years ago and raise your awareness of disaster prevention.
Yokohama Archives of History and Museum of Yokohama Urban History Special Exhibition: Overcoming the Great Kanto Earthquake 100 Years of the Great East Japan Earthquake:
Period From Saturday, August 26, 2023 (Reiwa 5) to Sunday, December 3, 2023 (Reiwa 5) ※
※ Closed days: Monday (However, if it is a public holiday, the museum is open and the following Tuesday is closed)
Opening hours from 9:30 to 17:00 (admission until 16:30)
Venue Yokohama Archives of History Exhibition Room 3, Nihon Odori, Naka-ku, Yokohama
(2 minutes on foot from Nihon Odori Avenue Station in Minato Mirai Line and 15 minutes on foot from Kannai Station in JR Kannai Station (South Exit) and Municipal Subway Kannai Station).
Please check the viewing fee and other links (outside site).
[Reception end] Reader present
The application has been closed and prizes have been sent to the winners on Tuesday, October 3rd. Thank you very much for your application.
Thank you for always seeing "Public Information Yokohama" and "Yokohama Aya Discovery". A lottery will be drawn from those who have received their impressions, and a set of two invitation tickets for the 100th anniversary special exhibition of the earthquake disaster and one original postcard will be presented to 5 people. If you wish, please refer to the following six items. ※Please specify and apply by postcard (to Yokohama City Hall Policy Bureau Public Relations Section, 6-50-10 Honcho, Naka-ku, Yokohama 231-0005) or e-mail (sss-saihakken@city.yokohama.jp). The deadline must arrive on Monday, October 2, 2023.
※ 1.Postal code, 2. Address, 3. Name, 4. Impression, 5. I would like to read, 6. "I wish to present the September issue"
The winner's announcement will be returned by sending the prize. In addition, the personal information you receive will not be used for any purpose other than sending prizes.
Reader's present contact information Yokohama City Hall Policy Bureau Public Relations Section TEL: 045‐671-2331 FAX： 045‐661-2351
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Telephone: 045-201-2100
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