Earthquake 

 of January 

 15th, 1887. 



314 S, SEKIYA 



The well-known Atami Spa and its neighbourliood were con- 

 vulsed on tlie morning of September 29tli, 1882, by a sudden 

 and severe movement, wliicli damaged embankments, destroyed an 

 historical monument, and did sundry other mischiefs. 



The earthquake of October 15th, 1884, also marked on Plate 

 XXII, originated in the Bay of Tokyo, and affected the Plain of 

 Musashi. It overturned a considerable number of chimneys, cracked 

 walls, and broke articles in museums and elsewhere. In Tokyo, the 

 greatest horizontal movement, in a soft ground, was 42 mm., or 

 double the amount observed on the 15th of January last. However, 

 the total damage, taking the whole affected area into account, was 

 smaller. 



The seismic waves in the disturbance of October SOth, 1885, 

 extended over the whole of Northern Japan and part of Yezo, shak- 

 ing a land area of 34,738 square miles. But, though of great extent, 

 they fortunately did little harm. 



On July 23rd, 1886, quite a destructive earthquake visited 

 Shinano and the neighbouring provinces, overthrowing several houses, 

 and forming fissures in roads and hill-sides. The shock also stopped 

 the flow of a hot spring at Nozawa. The part most severely shaken 

 was a mountainous district some 2000 feet above the sea, including 

 the famous active volcano of Asama, and many extinct craters. This 

 case was an unusual one, as most of the larger earthquakes in Japan 

 extend along the sea-shore. 



Next in the list comes the severe shock of last January. 



It thus appears that this empire is visited by a more or less des- 

 tructive earthquake almost once a year, and that the Plain of Musashi 

 is affected in like manner at intervah of a few years. 



Tlie shock of last January was of most unusual violence. It 

 originated near the coast, about 35 miles southwest of Tokyo, and 



