뉴스레터

The Great Kanto Earthquake and Massacre 98 Years Ago

The Great Kanto earthquake struck the Kanto Plain on September 1, 1923. The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.9 on the moment magnitude scale. The deaths and missing persons from the earthquake and fire were between 100,000 and 140,000, 103,733 injured, and 1.9 million refugees. Martial law was declared then. In that situation, the false rumors spread. Innocent Koreans, Chinese, Japanese socialists and labor activists were slaughtered by office and vigilante. Among the victims, the number of Koreans was the highest and the number was 6,661. So it is called 'The Great Kanto Earthquake and the Massacre of Koreans'. Currently, Japan designates September 1 every year as 'Disaster Prevention Day' and remembers the past history of the earthquake.

‘The History War’ by Revisionist Historians

NAHF held an online conference on August 31, with the theme of 'The Korean Massacre in the Period of the Kanto Earthquake and the Historical Revisionism'. The conference was planned to remember the historical facts that occurred 98 years ago and to discuss the tasks and lessons left to us, including research and memorial services that have been conducted. This incident, which massacred innocent Koreans, is a 'history of suffering' caused by segregation. However, the collection of data, the investigation of the truth, research and interest are not enough. In Japanese society, the far right held anti-Korean demonstrations and interfered with memorial event for victims. Recently, Revisionist Historians have expanded their scope of activity and have been doing ‘The History War’ in U.S. and Europe. So researchers from Korea, Japan and the United States held academic conferences together to inform and respond to the distortion of history by them and their misbehavior.

South Korea, the U.S., and Japan researchers discuss together

The conference began with the opening remarks of Lee Young-ho(President of NAHF), a welcoming speech by Han Si-jun(President of the Independence Hall of Korea), and greetings by Yoo Gi-hong(member of the National Assembly). Lee Young-ho was saddened that Kang Duk-sang, who has been active in research and activities related to The Great Kanto Earthquake and the Massacre of Koreans, died in June. Lee hoped that the conference would become more meaningful.

Here's what was discussed at this conference: First, Professor Lee Jin-hee of Eastern Illinois University introduced the discourse in the United States on ‘The History War’ and the current political use in the education field. Lee noted the commonality of the historical revisionism of the US-Japan and the interface of the people who led it. And the flow of ‘The History War’ which distorts colonialism and war crimes in the United States was examined in relation to the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Massacre of Koreans.

Second, Professor Tanaka Masataka of Senshu University introduced chauvinism such as 'Hate Speech' and ‘Anti-Korean Sentiment’ in Japan. And he reviewed J. M. Ramseyer's paper and pointed out various problems in it.

Third, Professor Sung Joo-hyun of Soongsil University presented Korea's research trends and tasks on the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Massacre of Koreans. Seo Jong-jin, a researcher of NAHF, presented the movement of Japanese historical revisionism. And he examined the changes and issues of history education about the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Massacre that were affected by it.

International Solidarity and Cooperation Against Revisionist Historians

We were sure that Revisionist Historians concealed, distorted, and denied the historical reality of 'Sexual slavery victims for the Japanese imperial army' and 'The Nanking Massacre' and 'The Great Kanto Earthquake and the Massacre of Koreans' in Korea, Japan, the United States and Europe.

Professor Kim Kwang-yeol of Kwangwoon University hosted the discussion session. Professor Kim Do-hyung of the Independence Hall·Dr. Bae Young-mi, researcher Lee Kyung-mi of NAHF, and Professor Kang Hyo-sook of Incheon University discussed 'The Tasks for Memory of Historical Facts, and Responses to Historical Revisionism and Chauvinism'. As the conflict is prolonged due to the difference in historical perception between Korea and Japan, the trend of revisionist historians expanding their activities to the international community has been grasped. By 2023, it will mark 100 years since the Great Kanto Earthquake. In this situation, we look back on the time of the incident and think seriously about what to learn from and what to do.