The Great Fire of Hakodate () is a fire that broke out in

Hakodate is a Cities of Japan, city and seaports of Japan, port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of January 31, 2024, the city had an estimated population of 239,813 with 138,807 househol ...

Hokkaido is the list of islands of Japan by area, second-largest island of Japan and comprises the largest and northernmost prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own list of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō fr ...

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

on 21 March 1934. It is considered one of the worst city fires in Japan's history. On 21 March 1934, a fire was started in a house located within the Sumiyoshi area, Hakodate. Over two days, burning debris fanned by strong winds set fire to the surrounding areas; including a local court, department store, school, and hospital. According to official documents, 2,166 people lost their lives, with 9,485 injured; 145,500 people were made homeless and 11,055 buildings lost. The fire destroyed around two-thirds of all buildings in Hakodate. This event also led to many residents leaving and subsequently depopulating the city.

References

External links

函館大火
- 函館市消防本部

- 函館市史
1934年3月23日付大阪毎日新聞
- 神戸大学附属図書館新聞記事文庫
昭和9年函館大火の記録映像 1934年3月21日
- YouTube History of Hakodate March 1934 in Asia Urban fires in Japan 1930s fires in Asia 1934 fires 1934 disasters in Japan Disasters in Hokkaido {{Fire-stub