160301-0034 - Great Kanto Earthquake

Evacuees pass by the devastated Kokugikan (両国国技館) in Tokyo’s Ryogoku district (両国国技館) after the Great Kanto Earthquake (Kanto Daishinsai) of September 1, 1923 (Taisho 12).

The Kokugikan was opened in 1909 (Meiji 42) and was also known as Sumo Hall.

It was designed by famed architect Kingo Tatsuno (辰野金吾, 1854–1919), who also designed Tokyo Station (1914) and the headquarters of the Bank of Japan (1896).

The building was destroyed by fire, the Great Kanto Earthquake and WWII bombing, but it was rebuilt each time. It was demolished in the early 1980s, just a wee bit over 70 years old.

Original text:（東京大震火災之実況）両国国技館に避難者の群衆。