On September 1, marking 101 years since the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, a memorial service was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida, Tokyo, to honor the victims of the earthquake and the Tokyo air raids at the end of World War II. Due to the impact of Typhoon No. 10, the organizers decided to cancel the attendance of bereaved families and guests for safety reasons. Governor Yuriko Koike did not attend again this year, and Deputy Governor Rinji Nakamura, who was scheduled to read a memorial address, also did not attend due to the typhoon’s effects. (Aikno Aki, Harada Ryo)
101 years since the Great Kanto Earthquake, a memorial service was held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida, Tokyo. = September 1, at Tokyo’s Yokogawa Town Park (Photo by Aikno Aki)
The service was organized by the Tokyo Memorial Association and began at 10 a.m. Following the chanting of sutras, memorial addresses were placed before the spirits, and those involved in the association joined in prayer.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall is located in Yokogawa Town Park, which was the site of an army uniform factory called “Hifuku-sho” at the time of the earthquake, where approximately 38,000 people who had evacuated lost their lives in the fire.
◆ “We do not know when, where, or who will experience a disaster”
Noriko Akimoto (47) from Adachi Ward, Tokyo, who came to offer incense, said her grandparents lost their home in Azabu due to the Great Kanto Earthquake, and her grandfather died in the Tokyo air raids after moving to present-day Sumida Ward. Akimoto, who comes to pay respects every year, expressed, “I have no words when I think of those who became victims. This year the Noto Peninsula earthquake occurred from the first day of the year. We do not know when, where, or who will experience a disaster. I want to reflect on the lessons learned and think once again about preparing for future disasters.”
A memorial service honoring the victims of the Great Kanto Earthquake. Attendance by bereaved families and guests was canceled due to the typhoon’s impact. = September 1, 10:17 AM, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida, Tokyo (Photo by Aikno Aki)
◆ Governor Koike’s memorial address: “Reflect on the hardships of those who came before us”
A 79-year-old unemployed woman from Sumida Ward, Tokyo, recounted that her friend’s mother died at the site of the military uniform factory during the Great Kanto Earthquake, stating, “Recently, there have been especially many disasters. I prayed that such things would never happen again” as she offered her prayers.
In her memorial address, Governor Koike stated, “The city is working on urban resilience to protect the lives of residents for a city where they can feel secure even 100 years into the future,” and she added, “Let us reflect on the hardships of those who came before us and overcome the challenges we face, passing Tokyo on as a sustainable city to future generations.”