Photo/Illutration People mourn the victims of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake at the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in the capital’s Sumida Ward on Sept. 1. (Masaaki Kobayashi)

Memorial ceremonies and disaster drills were held across the nation on Sept. 1 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake, which devastated the capital and surrounding areas.

The disaster left more than 105,000 people dead or missing.

Many died in the extensive fires following the earthquake, while ethnic Koreans faced tragedies spurred by unfounded rumors.

“On the centenary of the Great Kanto Earthquake, I hope that each of you will take this opportunity to think about disaster prevention and prepare for disasters,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at the closing ceremony of a joint disaster drill he attended on Sept. 1.

Kishida participated in a joint drill held by nine prefectures and cities at a portion of the U.S. Army Sagami General Depot, which was returned to Japan, in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture.

The drill simulated an earthquake that registered an upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 with a hypocenter directly beneath Sagamihara.

The prime minister arrived just after 11 a.m. aboard a Self-Defense Forces aircraft and observed training for rescues from collapsed buildings and participated in an initial fire-suppression training using a bucket brigade with elementary school students.

A memorial service was held in the morning at the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in the capital’s Sumida Ward.

A century ago, Yokoamicho Park, which houses the hall, was engulfed in a fire tornado following the earthquake. It is believed that around 38,000 evacuees who had fled there lost their lives.

The families of the victims paid their respects at the memorial service, which was also attended by Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko.

People visited the hall from the morning to offer incense and flowers.

Shortly after 11 a.m., another memorial service was held in front of a monument in the same park to commemorate the thousands of Koreans massacred in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Koreans living in the metropolitan area were targeted as rumors spread that they were plotting to stage an armed uprising, were setting fire to properties and poisoning water wells.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has stopped sending eulogies for the service since 2017, and no tributes were sent this year as well.

Two bereaved family members from South Korea attended the memorial service.

“To never repeat the same mistakes, we will continue to hold this ceremony,” said Yasuhiko Miyagawa, chair of the ceremony’s organizing committee.

Meanwhile, an annual large-scale drill was conducted in the capital’s Marunouchi district near Tokyo Station the same day.

Officials from major real estate company Mitsubishi Estate Co., the Tokyo Fire Department and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department took part in the 97th drill.

More than 2,000 people participated in the drill, which simulated a massive earthquake in a business district filled with skyscrapers.

Fire truck cranes were extended about 30 meters and sprayed water all at once.

Police officers gave instructions to the public using a megaphone and urged people in four languages, including English, Chinese and Spanish, “Do not be misled by false rumors.”

The officers attended the drill for the first time.

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