Kannon statue, Great Kanto Earthquake monument

Today, Japan commemorates 90 years since the Great Kanto Earthquake, an earthquake with over 140,000 victims, many dead during the ensuing devastating fires. In 1960, September 1 - the anniversary of this earthquake was declared by the government of Japan as annual "Disaster Prevention Day."

There are many places in Japan where memorials have been built to commemorate the Great Kanto Earthquake and one of them is the monument from today's photo, located in the Yoshiwara area from Asakusa, Tokyo.

At the time of the earthquake, here was a lake and a shrine dedicated to Goddess Benten. After the earthquake, the people from the area gathered on the shores of the lake hoping to escape from the fires... but 490 people died here, and this statue of Kannon, Bodhisattva of compassion, was erected in their memory. The lake was drained in 1959, but the Benten Shrine was rebuilt and is still here...