History: Tokyo

✿ Konnichiwa!

The first week of Japan was very busy. By the end of the second day it felt like I had been here for a week. On the first day we started with the Edo-Tokyo Museum, which gave us a clearer picture of the isolation policy and the reunification of Japan. The life size model of the Nihonbashi bridge was spectacular and the mechanics of the dioramas was entertaining. Our guide was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions to the best of her ability. She even went past 3pm in order to finish our tour. There were many facts I learned, but the most fascinating to me was the great fire in 1657, and the Great Kanto Earthquake resulting in a tsunami and fires in 1910.

The great fire in 1657 completely destroyed everything wooden in Edo. Only the buildings made of stone managed to survive. This fire is called Meireki, and it lasted for three days. Thousands of people died, and the city was rebuilt to prevent similar disasters. Shrines and temples were asked to scatter, roads were widened, and the residences of feudal lords moved to the outskirts of the city. Because of this remodelling, the city expanded from an 8-kilometre radius to 16 kilometres. 

The earthquake of 1910 was a similar event. The Great Kanto Earthquake was a level 7.9 and struck Izu Ōshima Island in Sagami Bay, off the coast of Tokyo. The earthquake hit at lunchtime, which caused even more deaths as many families were cooking meals over fires, and a typhoon off the coast resulted in the fires spreading quickly. Most people died in the fire tornado that engulfed the Rikugun Honjo Hifukusho, where people were taking shelter. Adding to the disaster was the tsunami that hit within minutes, and the 57 aftershocks. There were approximately 570 000 homes destroyed and many people were left homeless. Evacuees were sent as far as Kobe by ship. This event brought about Disaster Prevention Day on September 1 to commemorate the earthquake and stress the importance of preparedness. This made me remember a quote from a youtuber called Shane Madej, “The greatest safety precautions of our time were written in blood.” Because of the great number of people who died, this is perhaps why the buildings in Japan today have a stronger defense against earthquakes than the west coast of North America. The guide also mentioned the fact that under Mt Fuji there are three intersecting tectonic plates: The Eurasian, The North American, and The Philippine plates. It is a relatively small mountain and only formed about 5000 years ago in the shape we know today.

Sayonara!