The Great Ryōgoku Fire, or Great Kanda Fire, occurred on 26 January 1881, in Tokyo, Japan. The fire was the largest and most destructive of the Meiji era.[1]
At about 2 a.m., two fires broke out simultaneously on the path along the Kanda River. Due to strong seasonal winds, the fire spread and was carried throughout Tokyo by the Ryōgoku Bridge. The fire destroyed 15,221 homes across over 100 acres, including much of the Edo period architecture.[1][2][3] Over 36,000 people were left homeless.[4]
On 11 February 1881, another major fire broke out in Hisamatsuchō.[2][4]
Depictions of the fire by Kiyochika
editKobayashi Kiyochika, an ukiyo-e artist of the period, made several sketches of the events. His home, studio, and birthplace were all destroyed in the Ryōgoku fire.[4]
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Firemen fighting the conflagration -
Sketched from Hamachō -
Sketched from the Asakusa Bridge -
Aftermath
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "The Great Fire at Ryōgoku Bridge". Princeton University Art Museum. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ a b "The History of Fires and Firefighting in Japan and Six of its Major Cities [#2]" (PDF). International Fire Service Information Center. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ "Fire 1: Great Fire in Ryogoku". YouTube. Visualizing Cultures. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
- ^ a b c "Kiyochika's Tokyo — III". Visualizing Cultures. Retrieved 2024-09-19.