Ansei great earthquakes

The Ansei Great Quakes (安政の大地震, Ansei no Dai Jishin) are a series of 3 major earthquakes that struck Japan during the Ansei era. They consist of the following quakes:

3 Ansei Great Quakes (安政三大地震, Ansei San Daijishin), all producing tsunami.

• Ansei Tokai Quake (安政東海地震, Ansei Tokai Jishin) December 23, 1854 registering magnitude of 8.4,

• Ansei Nankai Quake (安政南海地震, Ansei Nankai Jishin) December 24, 1854, registering magnitude 8.4

• Ansei Edo Quake (安政江戸地震, Ansei Edo Jishin) striking Edo (now Tokyo, 6.9 magnitude) on November 11, 1855. It was blamed on a giant catfish (Namazu) thrashing about, Namazu ukiyo-e prints became very popular around this time. Much of Edo was destroyed with over 4,300 deaths.

Other notable quakes to strike in the Ansei period were:

• Ansei Iga Quake (安政伊賀地震, Ansei Iga Jishin)

• Ansei Kyushu Quake, A 7.4 quake on Nov 7, 1854 in Ehime Prefecture and Oita Prefecture.

• 1858 Hietsu earthquake also known as the Ansei Hietsu Quake (飛越地震), April 9, 1858.

See also

• List of earthquakes in Japan
• Historic tsunamis