The 1707 Hōei Earthquake
Posted by Karl Lundgren on
Imagine yourself living in 18th-century Japan. The year is 1707, and life is bustling in the Edo period. Cities are growing, trade is thriving, and for most, it seems like an era of peace and stability under the Tokugawa shogunate. You’re in a small coastal village, nestled on Japan’s southern shores. As you go about your daily routine, the earth suddenly begins to tremble beneath your feet. The ground shakes violently, more intense than any quake you've felt before. Buildings collapse, and people scream as they struggle to stay upright. Then, as the tremors finally subside, you see it—the ocean, once calm, is now receding. Moments later, a monstrous wave surges toward the shore.
This wasn’t just any earthquake; this was the Hōei Earthquake, a force so powerful it was felt across much of Japan. In its wake came a devastating tsunami that swallowed entire villages, carrying people and homes out to sea. And just when the people thought they’d seen the worst of it, the mighty Mount Fuji began to rumble, ultimately erupting weeks later and blanketing towns with thick layers of ash. This cataclysmic event became one of Japan’s first recorded disasters of such scale, forever changing the lives of those who survived and reshaping Japanese society’s understanding of the natural world’s raw power.
In this article, we’ll explore the Hōei Earthquake of 1707, unraveling how it reshaped Japan's landscape, disrupted society, and sparked a deep cultural awareness of natural disasters that still influences the country’s resilience today.
The 1707 Hōei Earthquake, which struck Japan over three centuries ago, remains a pivotal moment in the country's long history with natural disasters. Occurring during the Edo period, this earthquake was not only one of the largest in Japanese history but also set off a devastating sequence of natural events, including tsunamis and even a volcanic eruption. Though overshadowed by later seismic events like the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, the Hōei earthquake was one of the earliest significant records of seismic activity in Japan. It reshaped the landscape, devastated communities, and fundamentally altered how the Japanese viewed the power of nature.
The Setting: Japan in the Edo Period
In the early 18th century, Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate, a feudal military government that had united the country and brought about an era of relative peace and prosperity. Japan’s economy and society were stable, with vibrant trade, bustling cities, and a hierarchical social structure dominated by the samurai class. However, this peace did not make the Japanese complacent. Natural disasters were a well-known threat, and earthquakes, fires, and typhoons regularly tested the resilience of Japan's cities and villages. People understood the potential for catastrophe but were unprepared for the scale of destruction the Hōei earthquake would unleash.
The 1707 Hōei Earthquake: What Happened?
On October 28, 1707, Japan experienced what is estimated to be an 8.6-magnitude earthquake off the southern coast, in the Nankai Trough, an underwater tectonic boundary near Shikoku and Kyushu. This was a “megathrust” earthquake, where one tectonic plate is forced under another—a type of quake known for producing some of the most powerful seismic events on record.
The tremors were felt across a vast portion of Japan, and the shaking was particularly intense in the areas around the Nankai Trough, which included the islands of Shikoku, Kyushu, and Honshu. The quake was so powerful that it reportedly caused widespread structural damage even in Kyoto and Osaka, which were hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter. Homes, temples, and other buildings collapsed, burying people and livestock under rubble.
The most devastating after-effect, however, was not just the shaking of the earthquake itself but the tsunami that followed. Large tsunamis crashed into the Japanese coastlines facing the Pacific Ocean, including the islands of Shikoku, Kyushu, and parts of Honshu. Reports from the time describe walls of water swallowing coastal villages, sweeping away people, animals, boats, and buildings. In some areas, the waves reached up to 10 meters (over 30 feet) in height, inundating towns and leaving vast tracts of land submerged. Thousands lost their lives due to this catastrophic tsunami, and for survivors, it signaled the beginning of a prolonged period of hardship.
The Hōei Earthquake’s Connection to Mount Fuji
Adding to the calamity, the earthquake seemed to have triggered volcanic activity. Within weeks, Mount Fuji—Japan’s tallest and most famous peak—began to show signs of awakening. Less than two months after the quake, on December 16, 1707, Mount Fuji erupted in what would be the last major eruption in its history. This eruption, known as the Hōei Eruption, was explosive, sending ash and volcanic debris high into the sky. Although lava did not flow from the summit, large quantities of volcanic ash blanketed the surrounding areas, with some estimates suggesting up to 15 centimeters (6 inches) of ash accumulated in parts of the city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), which was over 100 kilometers away.
The ash caused widespread crop failures and contaminated water sources, leading to starvation and disease outbreaks. The Hōei Eruption compounded the suffering already inflicted by the earthquake and tsunami, making it one of the most complex natural disasters Japan had ever faced.
Social and Economic Impact
The Hōei Earthquake and its aftermath took a severe toll on Japan’s economy and society. Many coastal villages and towns were almost entirely destroyed, leading to massive loss of life and property. The destruction of crops from the ashfall disrupted food supplies and caused a famine that would persist for several years. Transportation of goods became challenging as the tsunami destroyed roads, bridges, and port facilities.
The economic strain placed on communities also disrupted the social fabric of society. Farmers, who were already heavily taxed, now faced additional hardship as crops failed, and livestock was lost. Many were forced to sell land, homes, and possessions just to survive. The Tokugawa government did what it could to provide relief, but the scale of the disaster overwhelmed its resources. Local samurai, who were traditionally responsible for their communities, often found themselves stretched thin, unable to support the struggling peasants who worked their lands.
As a result, the disaster prompted a series of reforms aimed at bolstering emergency preparedness, though such measures were limited given the period’s technological constraints. However, some of the relief efforts laid the groundwork for Japan’s later focus on community-based disaster resilience, which remains a hallmark of Japanese society.
Long-Term Impacts on Japanese Disaster Preparedness
The Hōei Earthquake was a tragic event, but it also influenced Japan’s approach to natural disasters in the long term. Though the technology of the Edo period was limited, the need for preparedness and rapid response became increasingly recognized. The shogunate, understanding the vulnerability of its lands, instituted more systematic monitoring of natural phenomena, including the documentation of earthquake and volcanic activity.
The disaster also influenced Japanese culture, as people began to view natural disasters as a central theme in literature, art, and folklore. Woodblock prints from the period, for instance, often depict Mount Fuji in its various moods—serene, erupting, or shrouded in clouds—capturing both the beauty and the peril of Japan’s natural environment. Even in modern Japan, these images continue to symbolize the country’s deep connection to nature and the underlying risk of living on tectonically active islands.
Lessons from the Hōei Earthquake for Modern Japan
Modern Japan, which has faced numerous natural disasters, from earthquakes to tsunamis and typhoons, has developed one of the world’s most advanced disaster preparedness systems. The Hōei Earthquake and its chain reaction with Mount Fuji served as an early lesson in the interconnectedness of natural hazards. Today, Japan’s National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience constantly monitors seismic activity, and the government invests heavily in public education on emergency response. Buildings are constructed with earthquake-resistant technology, and tsunami warning systems are in place along the coastlines.
The 1707 Hōei Earthquake remains a sobering reminder that Japan’s natural beauty comes with risks. Mount Fuji, though dormant since the Hōei Eruption, is still monitored closely. There are concerns that future seismic activity could once again awaken the volcano, potentially causing similar destruction. Preparedness efforts in Japan today reflect not only lessons learned from recent events but also wisdom passed down from disasters like the Hōei Earthquake.
Conclusion: Remembering the Hōei Earthquake
While the Hōei Earthquake of 1707 may not be as widely remembered as some more recent events, its impact on Japanese society and history is undeniable. It highlighted the incredible power of natural forces and underscored the need for human resilience in the face of such forces. The earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent eruption of Mount Fuji created a disaster scenario that tested Japan’s ability to recover and adapt.
Today, as Japan remains one of the most seismically active regions in the world, the story of the Hōei Earthquake offers a historical perspective on the country’s longstanding relationship with natural disasters. It serves as a reminder of the challenges Japan has faced—and overcome—in building a society that, while vulnerable to the earth’s shifting moods, is remarkably prepared to face whatever nature brings next.
So what can we do to get better prepared?
HAVE AN EARTHQUAKE KIT
A kit is not a safety blanket you just purchase to make yourself feel better, it is an important investment in your household’s safety and preparedness. Not all emergency kits are created equal, and we highly recommend using the Province of BC and Government of Canada resources when building or buying a kit. We are also pleased to offer Earthquake Kits that developed to meet the government requirements for emergency preparedness. Visit our Gov BC Earthquake Kit product page to view the contents of our kits and feel free to use this as a guideline for assembling your own. What’s important to us is not that you buy a kit from us, but that every household have a kit at the ready in case something unexpected should occur.
EXPAND THE EARLY DETECTION & WARNING SYSTEM IN BC
The Province of BC and the Federal Government have made huge strides in this area in recent years implementing an Emergency Notifications network through mobile carriers and testing it to great success levels. This can provide seconds to even minutes of advanced notice prior to an earthquake being felt in any given location. However, a network of this complexity relies on strategically positioned censors along the coastline. We need to continue expanding this network of sensors and make sure that existing censors are being properly monitored and maintained.
We also need to expand from mobile phone notifications to physical alarms in homes, buildings, and especially schools/daycares.
For more details on how this Early Detection Grid works, please check out the following video by the CBC several years ago.
GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
Know the Hazards
Knowing which hazards you need to plan for is the first step to getting prepared
Build Your Kits
Put together a household emergency kit and grab-and-go bag.
Make Your Plan
Plan how you will respond to a disaster to stay focused and safe.
Guides and Resources
Preparedness guides and community resources are available to help get ready for emergencies.
Evacuation and Recovery Resources
Learn what happens in evacuations, what financial assistance you might be eligible for and other recovery resources.
Education Programs and Toolkits
Create awareness about preparing for emergencies with Prepared BC's easy-to-use education programs and social media toolkits.