160306-0041 - Earthquake Reconstruction Bridge

Kototoi-bashi Bridge (言問橋) over the Sumidagawa River in Tokyo, ca. 1930 (Showa 5). The bridge was completed in 1928 (Showa 3) as part of the earthquake reconstruction project following the Great Kanto Earthquake (Kanto Daishinsai) of September 1, 1923 (Taisho 12). During the Great Tokyo Air Raid of March 10, 1945 (Showa 20), many people fleeing the raging fires on both shores got caught at this bridge. The crowds on the bridge were set on fire by the incendiary bombs and died a pitiless death. From the postcard series The 16 Bridges of Tokyo (東京大十六橋). Tokyo celebrated the official completion of its earthquake reconstruction in March 1930. As part of the project, hundreds of bridges were built or reconstructed. This series appears to have been published to coincide with the celebration. Photo by MeijiShowa/AFLO