September 1
1923 関東大震災 An enormous earthquake (an estimated 7.9-8.3 on the Richter scale) devastated the Kanto region of Japan. Huge swaths of Tokyo and Yokohama were left in ruins. Perhaps 142,000 people perished.
Schauwecker's Guide to Japan offers some of the photos August Kengelbacher took of the destruction. The St. Louis University Earthquake Center has assembled another collection of photos.
1974 The experimental Japanese nuclear-powered ship N.S. Mutsu had a radiation leak. The leak occurred during the $44 million vessel's maiden voyage which was already the occasion of much protest from fishermen and environmentalists. The ship spent much of the next decade undergoing repairs. According to US sources the Japanese government spent over $700 million repairing and testing the vessel.
The Teaching about Japan website is
edited by Clayton Dube.
He welcomes your comments and suggestions.
© 2001 UCLA Center for East Asian Studies