Album of The Great Kanto Earthquake (Shin Hanga)

This is the cover of Dai Shinsai Gashu (Illustrated Collection of the Great Earthquake), created by the Japan Manga Association in response to the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. The cover artwork was drawn by Mizushima Niou and published on December 21, 1923. The volume consists of 25 black-and-white pages of sketches and paintings by 15 prominent artists of the time, including Ikebe Hitoshi, Ikeda Eiji, Hattori Ryohei, Ogawa Jihei, Terauchi Kunitsu, and more.

The illustration on the cover captures the chaos of the earthquake’s aftermath through expressive forms: broken buildings, red flames, and swirling smoke rendered in a semi-abstract, almost Art Deco-influenced style. The dynamic composition and limited but bold color palette (red, gray, blue) convey the destruction and urgency of the event.

In an era when photography was not widely accessible, illustrations like these served a crucial role in both journalism and public memory. The title text, handwritten in bold calligraphy, reflects traditional aesthetics while aligning with the modern design sensibilities of early 20th-century Japanese print media.

This work stands as a rare example of how graphic art responded directly to a national tragedy, blending artistic expression with documentary purpose, and marking an important chapter in the history of Japanese visual culture.