The Severe Japan Earthquake 



of 



The 15th of January, 1887. 



By 



S. Sekiya. 



Professor of Seismology, Imperial University. 



With Plates XXII-XXIV 



Soon after the occurrence of the earthquake of the 15th of 

 January last, which caused considerable damage to property in and 

 near Yokohama, the authorities of the Imperial University directed 

 the writer to visit the places which had been affected by the shock, 

 and to make a fall report of all the circumstances. The results thus 

 arrived at form the subject of the present paper. Before proceeding 

 Avith this, however, it seems desirable to give some particulars 

 respecting the principal shocks which have been felt in the Empire 

 since 1879. 



The Earthquake of February 22nd, 1880*, is the severest that ^«^°^^^"^'^ severe 

 has been experienced in the Plain of Musashi during the last ten 

 years. The damage done to buildings was very much greater than 

 on the recent occasion. Its origin was in the Bay of Tokyo, and the 

 boundary of the disturbed; area is shown on Plate XXII. 



On the 25tli October, 1881, Nemuro in Yezo, was visited by a 

 somewhat destructive shock. Fissures were opened in the ground, 

 and the damage to property was not inconsiderable. 



* Se-3 The Earthquake of Fehru'xnj 22u 1, 1880, by Johu Milue, Trausactious of the 

 Seismological Society of Japau, Vol. 1, Part II. 



