The Great Kanto Earthquake and the Massacre of Koreans: A Century of Denial and Remembrance
The Great Kanto Earthquake, which struck the Kanto region of Japan on September 1, 1923, was a catastrophe of immense proportions. With an estimated magnitude of 7.9, the quake devastated Tokyo and surrounding areas, claiming the lives of 100,000 to 140,000 people, many perishing in the ensuing fires that engulfed the devastated cities. Yet, amidst this natural disaster, a far more sinister tragedy unfolded: the systematic massacre of thousands of Koreans residing in Japan. This act of mass violence, fueled by fear, misinformation, and deep-seated xenophobia, remains a dark stain on Japan’s history, a chilling reminder of the fragility of social order and the devastating consequences of prejudice.
The massacre of Koreans was not a spontaneous eruption of violence but rather the culmination of simmering tensions and discriminatory practices that had long plagued the Korean community in Japan. By 1923, Japan had already annexed Korea, subjecting Koreans to oppressive colonial rule. Driven by economic hardship, many Koreans migrated to Japan seeking work, only to find themselves relegated to the lowest rungs of society, facing discrimination, prejudice, and resentment from the native Japanese population. Scapegoated and marginalized, Koreans became easy targets for societal anxieties, fueled by inflammatory media portrayals and colonial propaganda that depicted them as potential agitators and troublemakers. This climate of distrust and suspicion laid the groundwork for the horrific events that followed the earthquake.
In the chaotic aftermath of the quake, as communication lines crumbled and fear gripped the populace, false rumors rapidly spread, accusing Koreans of poisoning wells, setting fires, and plotting insurrection. These baseless rumors, amplified by word-of-mouth and unchecked by the devastated media, ignited a wave of paranoia that quickly escalated into mob violence. Vigilante groups, some affiliated with right-wing organizations, roamed the streets, attacking Koreans based on their ethnicity. Many were brutally beaten, stabbed, and murdered in cold blood. The authorities, overwhelmed by the disaster, did little to quell the violence, and in some cases, even propagated the rumors, further fueling the hysteria.
The exact number of Koreans killed in the massacre remains uncertain, with estimates ranging from hundreds to thousands. The Japanese government, in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, actively sought to downplay the scale of the atrocities, suppressing information and diverting public attention to the task of rebuilding. However, survivor testimonies, eyewitness accounts, and investigative journalism gradually brought the truth to light, revealing the horrific extent of the violence and the government’s complicity in obscuring it.
Despite growing evidence and calls for acknowledgment, official recognition of the massacre by the Japanese government remained elusive for decades, arriving only in piecemeal and carefully worded statements. This reluctance to confront the past further compounded the suffering of the Korean community and hindered efforts at reconciliation. The post-war period brought some measure of justice, with investigations and trials, but the full extent of the atrocities and the responsibility of the Japanese state remained largely unaddressed.
The massacre of Koreans after the Great Kanto Earthquake stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of xenophobia and the devastating consequences of unchecked prejudice. The quake itself was a natural disaster, but the violence that followed was a human-made catastrophe, fueled by societal biases and institutionalized discrimination. The tragedy serves as a cautionary tale, urging societies to confront and dismantle systems of oppression and to promote tolerance and understanding to prevent such atrocities from happening again. The struggle for recognition and remembrance continues, a testament to the resilience of the Korean community and the ongoing fight for historical justice.
The legacy of the 1923 massacre continues to resonate within the Korean-Japanese community, serving as a painful reminder of their history and shaping their identity. While subsequent generations have navigated a more diverse Japanese society, discrimination and prejudice persist, highlighting the ongoing need for education, awareness, and reconciliation. The memory of the massacre serves as a powerful call for continued vigilance against all forms of xenophobia and bigotry, urging societies to learn from the past to build a more just and inclusive future. The incident should be viewed not just as a historical event but as a cautionary tale with global implications, demonstrating the fragility of social cohesion and the potential for prejudice to erupt into violence in times of crisis.
