DEVELOPMENT OF SEISMOLOGY IN JAPAN 255 



noolts and corners of our scientific world. The Central Meteorological 

 Observatory of Tokyo had taken up regular seismological observations 

 into its routine work from the earliest days of its existence. The 

 numerous Meteorological Stations widely distributed in different parts 

 of the country have been equipx^ed with more or less competent 

 seismographs under the supervision of the Central Meteorological 

 Observatory. The net work of systematic observations has developed 

 into an increasingly valuable organization owing to the incessant 

 efforts of the central staff to improve the instruments and the methods 

 of observation and especially to effect a reliable control of time. 

 Meanwhile, disinterested theoretical investigations of earthquake phe- 

 nomena have by no means been neglected. A number of valuable 

 papers in this line have appeared in the Bulletin of the Central Met. 

 Obs. and Journal of the Met. Soc. of Japan. Since the foundation of 

 the Marine Observatory at Kobe, by Prof. Okada, earthquake obser- 

 vations have been included in the routine program of its work. The 

 invaluable contributions made by the authorities of this institute on 

 the occasion of the recent Great Earthquake will be remembered by 

 all seismologists of this country. 



Another school of seismology has been in the meanwhile in breed- 

 ing in the Imperial University of Kyoto, under the influence of Prof. 

 Shida. At the Kamigamo Observatory, in that picturesque suburb of 

 the ancient metropolis, many kinds of original investigations have 

 been carried out. Piccently, Prof. Shida succeeded in founding a new 

 Geophysical Observatory at Beppu, in the Prefecture of Oita, a famous 

 site of the unique group of hot springs where various lines of inter- 

 esting researches are now in prospect. 



On the other hand, the Tohoku In:iperial University, in Sendai, 

 has by no means been indifferent to this branch of natural sciences. 

 The late Prof. Kusakabe founded the Mukaiyama Observatory in the 

 vicinity of the city of Sendai, where beside the usual meteorological 

 observations seismological investigations were in progress under his 

 able guidance. Recently, Prof. Saem. Nakamura who was formerly 

 the Expert in the Centr. Met. Obs., has succeeded to his chair. With 

 the able assistance of Mr. Shiratori, he is now keeping watch on the 

 terrestrial phenomena in the northern quarter of this country. 



The great earthquake of Se])t. 1, 1923, with all its sacrifices in 

 lives and properties, has not been without some compensatory benefit 

 at least regarded from the scientific point of view. The urgent 



