Tokyo Memorial Temple for Two Great Disasters (Tokyo)

 temple, memorial, Second World War 1939-1945

During the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, about 38,000 people tried to find refuge from fires on the empty premises of the former Army Clothing Depot. Yet, a few hours later the ground was enveloped in fire, and the people burnt to death. On 1 September 1930, the Memorial Temple was erected to commemorate the more than 58,000 victims of the earthquake and subsequent fires. The ashes of the 38,000 people who died on this spot were enshrined in the temple.

During the Second World War, Tokyo was badly damaged by the US Air Force, having suffered 46 big air raids. The incendiary bombs used by the USAF were especially effective in Tokyo where most houses were wooden. Over 851,000 houses were burnt down, and about 105,000 people killed.

On 1 September 1951, the temple was re-innaugurated as the Tokyo Memorial Temple for Two Great Disasters.