5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[MIS24-P04] Characteristics and Classification of Tsunami Monuments in Japan: Case Studies from Nankai, Sanriku, and Shimabara-Amakusa Regions
Keywords:Tsunami Monuments , Historical Earthquake
Japan has experienced various natural disasters throughout its history. To pass on the knowledge and records of these disasters, disaster memorial monuments have been erected in many regions. Among them, tsunami monuments, which record past tsunami disasters, are particularly common along the Pacific coast, where tsunamis frequently occur. During the Great East Japan Earthquake, there were cases where people evacuated based on the inscriptions on these monuments, thereby avoiding disaster. However, some tsunami monuments are not properly maintained, and local residents' awareness of them is low. Additionally, there are limited cases where tsunami monuments have been actively utilized in disaster prevention activities.
Therefore, this study aims to compare and analyze the characteristics of tsunami monuments in some regions, organize historical records, and gain insights that contribute to future disaster prevention efforts. The target areas of this study are the Nankai region, the Sanriku region, and the Shimabara-Amakusa region.
The research process is as follows: Data on the year of establishment, monument names, inscriptions, types, and locations of tsunami monuments were collected from databases and previous studies, with on-site surveys. Furthermore, the inscriptions on the monuments were classified by purpose into the following categories: damage record type, lesson type, inundation mark type, memorial type, and achievement commemoration type.
As a result, it was found that there are 835 tsunami monuments in Japan, with 216 in the Nankai region, which is the focus of this study, 471 in the Sanriku region, and 47 in the Shimabara-Amakusa region.
In the Nankai region, there are many tsunami monuments of the inundation mark type, particularly the "Nankai Earthquake Maximum Tide Level Monuments," which were frequently erected in Tokushima and Wakayama Prefectures during the early Heisei period. Additionally, efforts to raise disaster awareness, such as installing explanatory plaques next to tsunami monuments, are actively being carried out.
On the other hand, in the Sanriku region, many tsunami monuments serve as lessons, with the "Great Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Memorial Monument," built in large numbers the year after the 1933 Shōwa Sanriku Earthquake, being a representative example. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of erecting new tsunami monuments to support recovery efforts and pass down memories of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. However, some tsunami monuments built after the 1896 Meiji Sanriku Earthquake and the 1933 Shōwa Sanriku Earthquake were either washed away by the Great East Japan Earthquake or deteriorated due to weathering. Therefore, measures are needed to strengthen the transmission of memories to future generations by focusing on tsunami monuments established in the wake of historical earthquakes and tsunamis.
In the Shimabara-Amakusa region, many memorial-type tsunami monuments commemorate the volcanic earthquake and tsunami of 1792. However, issues such as poor maintenance and locations that are not easily visible indicate that the transmission of historical memories to future generations has not been sufficiently achieved.
Based on these findings, it was confirmed that the Nankai region is more advanced in the preservation and utilization of tsunami monuments compared to other regions. Moving forward, in addition to organizing information on tsunami monuments, interviews with local governments will be conducted to investigate preservation and utilization strategies in greater detail.
Therefore, this study aims to compare and analyze the characteristics of tsunami monuments in some regions, organize historical records, and gain insights that contribute to future disaster prevention efforts. The target areas of this study are the Nankai region, the Sanriku region, and the Shimabara-Amakusa region.
The research process is as follows: Data on the year of establishment, monument names, inscriptions, types, and locations of tsunami monuments were collected from databases and previous studies, with on-site surveys. Furthermore, the inscriptions on the monuments were classified by purpose into the following categories: damage record type, lesson type, inundation mark type, memorial type, and achievement commemoration type.
As a result, it was found that there are 835 tsunami monuments in Japan, with 216 in the Nankai region, which is the focus of this study, 471 in the Sanriku region, and 47 in the Shimabara-Amakusa region.
In the Nankai region, there are many tsunami monuments of the inundation mark type, particularly the "Nankai Earthquake Maximum Tide Level Monuments," which were frequently erected in Tokushima and Wakayama Prefectures during the early Heisei period. Additionally, efforts to raise disaster awareness, such as installing explanatory plaques next to tsunami monuments, are actively being carried out.
On the other hand, in the Sanriku region, many tsunami monuments serve as lessons, with the "Great Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Memorial Monument," built in large numbers the year after the 1933 Shōwa Sanriku Earthquake, being a representative example. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of erecting new tsunami monuments to support recovery efforts and pass down memories of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. However, some tsunami monuments built after the 1896 Meiji Sanriku Earthquake and the 1933 Shōwa Sanriku Earthquake were either washed away by the Great East Japan Earthquake or deteriorated due to weathering. Therefore, measures are needed to strengthen the transmission of memories to future generations by focusing on tsunami monuments established in the wake of historical earthquakes and tsunamis.
In the Shimabara-Amakusa region, many memorial-type tsunami monuments commemorate the volcanic earthquake and tsunami of 1792. However, issues such as poor maintenance and locations that are not easily visible indicate that the transmission of historical memories to future generations has not been sufficiently achieved.
Based on these findings, it was confirmed that the Nankai region is more advanced in the preservation and utilization of tsunami monuments compared to other regions. Moving forward, in addition to organizing information on tsunami monuments, interviews with local governments will be conducted to investigate preservation and utilization strategies in greater detail.