Reconstruction
While the army was contributing to the relief efforts, the navy was focused on “the transportation of food, relief goods and evacuees, guard duties, investigation and surveying of afflicted areas, and the total number of transported evacuees totaled 59,000.[1]” Aftershocks from the September 1 earthquake continued to shake the nation for almost two weeks.
Within a few days of the quake, Japan’s major port cities were the destination of many foreign ships sent to aide Japan in the relief efforts. However, Japan only allowed foreign vessels to enter the ports of “Hakodate, Niigata, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki for national security reasons.[2]” The government did not want other countries to know the extent of the damage caused by the Kanto quake, especially the massive damage caused to the Yokosuka Naval Station, which was nearly obliterated.
Within a few days of the quake, Japan’s major port cities were the destination of many foreign ships sent to aide Japan in the relief efforts. However, Japan only allowed foreign vessels to enter the ports of “Hakodate, Niigata, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagasaki for national security reasons.[2]” The government did not want other countries to know the extent of the damage caused by the Kanto quake, especially the massive damage caused to the Yokosuka Naval Station, which was nearly obliterated.
Home Minister Gotou Shimpei tried to bolster the Japanese spirit, he viewed the earthquake’s destruction optimistically and pushed for Japan not only to rebuild but to “'construct an ideal imperial city’ and turn the earthquake disaster into prosperity.[3]” The people and leaders of Japan began to imagine and create ideal city landscapes for Tokyo and Yokohama. |
To the right is a short video clip showing images of the destruction caused by the Kanto Quake of '23, how people tried to establish normalcy in their lives immediately after the earthquake and the initial efforts of the Japanese people to rebuild the destroyed cities. |
|
Shortly after the Great Tohoku earthquake in March 2011, that registered as a 9.0 on the Richter scale, many people returned to the memories of the 1923 quake. Only one day after the 2011 quake, National Public Radio interviewed Clayton Jones, Tokyo bureau chief for The Christian Science Monitor from 1990 to 1994. Clayton Jones was asked to explain how the 1923 quake prepared Japan for future natural disasters. Jones said “they [Japan] set up yearly drills, disaster drills. And the main feature of that is a truck that goes around the different neighborhoods. And one side is open and people are invited to sit in this open truck. It looks like a Japanese kitchen. And the truck rocks back and forth. And you're allowed to experience an actual quake. You're taught how to turn off your gas and go under the table. This is something that's very important.[4]”
[1] Kuratani Masashi, “Disaster Relief Operations by the Imperial Japanese Navy and the US Navy in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake : Focusing on the activities of the on-site commanders of the Imperial Japanese Navy and the US Navy,” JMSDF Staff College Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, http://www.mod.go.jp/msdf/navcol/SSG/review/1-2/eng_1-2-4.pdf, page 13 (accessed on July 13, 2013).
[2] Kuratani, Masahi, page 25 (accessed on July 13, 2013).
[3] Caroline, Norma, Reconstruction in service of the Japanese nation: Yokohama city and the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, “The Imperial Capital Reconstruction Plan,” http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/publications/eras/edition-10/norma-article.pdf (accessed on July 13, 2013).
[4] “Deadly 1923 Quake Changed Japan Forever,” National Public Radio March 12, 2011, http://www.npr.org/2011/03/12/134494087/Deadly-1923-Quake-Changed-Japan-Forever (accessed July 13, 2013).
[2] Kuratani, Masahi, page 25 (accessed on July 13, 2013).
[3] Caroline, Norma, Reconstruction in service of the Japanese nation: Yokohama city and the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, “The Imperial Capital Reconstruction Plan,” http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/publications/eras/edition-10/norma-article.pdf (accessed on July 13, 2013).
[4] “Deadly 1923 Quake Changed Japan Forever,” National Public Radio March 12, 2011, http://www.npr.org/2011/03/12/134494087/Deadly-1923-Quake-Changed-Japan-Forever (accessed July 13, 2013).