The Great Kanto Earthquake, which struck Tokyo, Kanagawa, and surrounding areas on September 1, 1923, caused massive damage. This report examines the Korean residents’ victimization, circulating rumors, and neighborhood vigilante responses during the chaos, based on historical evidence.
2. Korean Population and Casualties
Estimated Korean population in Kanto at the time: several thousand to tens of thousands
Some Korean sources claim “tens of thousands massacred,” but primary sources and physical evidence do not support this
Number of confirmed deaths or casualties is small; very few human remains or skeletons have been found
Simplified Estimate Table (Example)
Subject
Estimated Number / Scale
Notes
Korean population
Several thousand to tens of thousands
No formal registry system, exact statistics unavailable
Confirmed deaths
Several hundred to below a few thousand
No physical evidence for large-scale massacres
Japanese deaths
Tens of thousands
Due to earthquake, fire, and collapse
3. Rumors and Resident Actions
Examples of rumors:
“Koreans are poisoning wells”
“Koreans are planning looting during the fire”
Rumors prompted the formation of neighborhood vigilante groups
Purpose of vigilantes: maintain order, prevent looting, protect communities
Resulted in occasional excessive defensive actions and violence
Rumor, Offense, and Damage Table (Simplified)
Rumor
Actual Offense
Actual Damage
Notes
“Koreans poisoning wells”
None
Attacks on Koreans (sporadic)
No evidence of poisoning; rumor triggered vigilante actions
“Koreans planning mass killing”
None
Assaults on Koreans
No evidence of planned massacres; regional differences in incidents
Koreans looting during fires
Very few
Minor Japanese property loss
Accidental/isolated incidents; mainly Japanese perpetrators
Japanese attacks on Koreans
Japanese vigilantes and mobs
Confirmed Korean victims
Prompted by rumors; concentrated in certain districts (e.g., Shitamachi)
Japanese looting
Many arrests and prosecutions
Some Japanese victims
Verified through court records
4. Excessive Vigilante Action
Formation of vigilantes was a reasonable initial response
Main causes of excessive defense:
Fear and anxiety driven by rumors
Temporary collapse of police and administrative functions
Victims were mostly due to spontaneous, reactive violence
No evidence of organized, large-scale ethnic massacre; narratives of “mass killings of Koreans” are exaggerated
5. Optimal Measures at the Time
Establishment of central disaster response headquarters
Police and military to maintain order
Provision of shelter, water, and food
Information dissemination within limits
Official notices through newspapers, bulletin boards, and public officers
Countering rumors (no SNS, so immediate communication was impossible)
Organization and guidance of vigilante groups
Minimize use of violence
Coordination at the community level
6. Conclusion
Korean victimization occurred during the earthquake, but no evidence supports large-scale planned massacre
Some isolated looting and assaults by Koreans occurred, but numbers were small and sporadic
Excessive vigilante actions were the main source of harm, triggered by rumors
Overstating or politicizing Korean casualties is inappropriate and disrespectful to the victims
Academic analysis should focus on ethnicity, type of incidents, and regional differences using primary sources