The Great Kanto Earthquake (1)

New Year's Day, 1923 (Taisho 12)

"This is the year the Great Kanto Earthquake happens, huh? Hey, Liriel, don't you think we should try to prevent it?"

"Are you seriously thinking of letting 100,000 people die? You should at least try to reduce the number of tragic deaths. Giving power to demons is absolutely out of the question!"

"I won't do that. I'll definitely try to prevent it. But the earthquake itself is inevitable, right? It's hard to reduce the damage to zero."

On September 1, 1923, at 11:58 a.m., a massive earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 8.0 struck, with its epicenter stretching from the northern part of Sagami Bay to the central part of the Boso Peninsula. This earthquake triggered large-scale fires in Yokohama and Tokyo, as well as tsunami damage along the coasts of Sagami Bay and Tokyo Bay, resulting in approximately 100,000 deaths.

The timing of the earthquake, right when many households were preparing lunch and using fire, contributed to the widespread fires.

"What if we hold a disaster drill across the entire Kanto region on September 1st and evacuate everyone at the exact time the earthquake is supposed to happen?"

"A disaster drill sounds like a good idea. If we just go around saying, 'A big earthquake will happen on September 1st!', people might think we're the ones causing it. Humans love conspiracy theories, after all."

"But if we suddenly announce a disaster drill on September 1st and the earthquake happens right on schedule, wouldn't people suspect that we knew about it in advance or even caused it ourselves?"

"If it's too sudden, they might. But what if 'someone else' suggests holding it on September 1st? That should work, right?"

The Regent's Inquiry

"Your Highness, here is the report on the possibility of a major earthquake occurring on September 1st."

"Earthquakes are truly terrifying. I've heard that the earthquake in China two years ago killed 200,000 people. Is there no way to prevent an earthquake from happening?"

"Your Highness, the energy of an earthquake far exceeds human understanding. Preventing one is impossible. All we can do is minimize the damage. I recommend consulting an expert. How large would the earthquake be? What's the worst-case scenario for casualties? In this field, Dr. Imamura Akitsune would be the best person to consult. He has been warning about the possibility of a massive earthquake in the capital for some time now. He's the perfect candidate."

And so, Dr. Imamura Akitsune was summoned at the request of the Regent.

Dr. Imamura's Meeting with the Regent

In a room at the Togu Palace, Dr. Imamura sat nervously. The sudden summons from the Regent was to discuss the possibility of a massive earthquake in Tokyo. Eighteen years ago, Imamura had written a paper predicting a major earthquake in Tokyo, which caused a sensation and became a social issue at the time. However, many scholars criticized him, calling him a "liar" and accusing him of seeking attention.

"I did predict that a massive earthquake would occur in the capital within 50 years, but it's been 18 years since then, and there's been no sign of it. Yet, if His Highness is interested in my paper, does that mean he's seriously considering the possibility? Surely, he didn't summon me just to call me a liar. I must explain the mechanisms of earthquakes and the likelihood of their occurrence clearly so that His Highness can understand."

As he steeled himself, the chamberlain announced, "His Highness has arrived."

The door opened, and in walked a young man in a suit and a military officer of similar age—the Crown Prince Regent and Takashiro Soryu.

"Dr. Imamura, thank you for coming. I appreciate your time."

"Your Highness, it is an honor to be called 'Doctor.' Please, just call me Imamura. I am deeply honored to be summoned by Your Highness. I understand that Your Highness is not only knowledgeable in biology but also in science and seismology. I am humbled by your interest in my humble research. Thank you very much."

"No, I insist on calling you 'Doctor.' There's no reason to hesitate to address someone more learned and talented than myself as such. Now, I'd like to discuss the paper you wrote in Meiji 38 (1905) about the possibility of a major earthquake in the capital. If such an event were to occur in the near future, the government's failure to prepare would be a grave mistake. And if many people were to suffer and die, it would be an irreparable tragedy."

"Your Highness, do you believe in that paper?"

For Imamura, who had been ridiculed by the academic community as a "liar" for 18 years without any signs of a major earthquake, this interest from the Regent was an unexpected joy.

"Japan has many volcanoes, and since ancient times, records of major earthquakes are too numerous to count. If something can happen, it will happen eventually—whether it's now, in 10 years, or in 100 years. But as leaders, we must always prepare for the worst. Please, share your thoughts with me."

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A/N: Thank you for reading Chapter 40!

Can the damage be minimized?

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