July 10, 1804 Earthquake: Kisakata, Japan

Reference #414:

1804, July 10, about 22:00 [local time]. There was a destructive earthquake on the coast of the Sea of Japan between Honjo and Sakata and on Tobi Island. It was strongest at Kisakata, where 65 people died and 423 of 523 homes were destroyed. A few kilometres to the east, southeast of Kisakata, several square kilometers of rice fields subsided 3 m. In the east, the boundary of the pleistoseismic zone included the Chokai volcano. In the Yuri district (Akita Prefecture) situated to the north of the volcano, 1,200 homes collapsed and 184 people died. In Akumi district (Yamagata Prefecture), situated south of the volcano, 3,400 homes collapsed and 153 people died.

Roads and bridges were damaged, fields were spoiled, and avalanches occurred in the mountains. Three homes collapsed on Tobi Island. In the lower reaches of the Elogami River, near Sakata, the ground cracked and numerous water fountains gushed up to a height of 3 m, as a result of which the lowlands were flooded to a depth of 1.5 m. At the Nadicho temple (55 km from Kisakata), the stone lamps collapsed. There was no damage at Kameda, Kakunodate, and on Sado Island. At Odate, the clay walls cracked in the warehouses on the alluvial soils of the Noshiro River. It is possible that the earthquake was felt in the northern part of Chiba Prefecture.

To the north and south of the Chokai volcano, the coast rose. At Kisakata, the rise was more than 2 m. The famous picturesque bay with a diameter of 2 km with "88 gulfs and 99 islands" dried up as a result. At Kono'ura, 6 km to the north of Kisakata, the rise was 1.5 m; as a result, a small island became joined to the mainland.

The tsunami which developed did some damage to the homes near the Mogami River in Sakata. According to other sources, the tsunami waves caused by the earthquake, caused great destruction; there were many victims.

Iida et al. (1967): 39 N., 140 E.; M=7.1, m=1.

Reference #150:

1804, July 10, 39.05 N, 139.95 E, magnitude 7.1. 450 deaths. 10,810 houses destroyed. A lake upheaved 2 m and became dry land. Honjyo castle damaged. Tsunami damage at Kisagata and Sakata where 300 houses inundated by 1 m high water.