December 7, 1944 Tsunami: Off Southeast Coast Kii Peninsula, Japan

Name: December 7, 1944 Tsunami: Off Southeast Coast Kii Peninsula, Japan
Start: 1944-12-07
Location: Off Southeast Coast Kii Peninsula, Japan

December 7, 1944 · 10 m · 1,223 deaths · 29,205 houses destroyed · Definite tsunami

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake began at Off Southeast Coast Kii Peninsula, Japan on December 7, 1944 at 04:35 UTC. The water rose as high as 10 meters. Its effects were recorded at 156 places in at least 4 countries. It killed 1,223 people, counting the earthquake or eruption that caused it.

Where the waves reached

The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.

Under 1 m
1 to 3 m
3 to 10 m
10 to 30 m
30 m and more
Height not recorded

Tsunami warnings in force

Travel times

How long the first wave took to reach each part of the ocean, one line for each hour up to 24, estimated from the source and the depth of the sea.

The travel times are computed in your browser, which needs JavaScript.

1 to 4 hours
5 to 6 hours
7 to 14 hours
15 hours and more

NOAA NCEI’s tsunami travel time map for this event — NCEI’s own map: one line an hour from the source (the star), labeled every five hours. Map: NOAA NCEI.

Computed in your browser the way NOAA’s own travel time maps are: the wave travels at the square root of gravity times the depth, over NOAA’s ETOPO1 depths averaged to a 10 arc-minute grid. Checked against NOAA NCEI’s maps for 21 tsunamis over the first 24 hours, these lines fall within 10 minutes of NCEI’s at half the points compared and within 52 minutes at 9 in 10. They give when the first wave could arrive, not how high it is; bays, harbors and island chains finer than the grid can see it later. Not for use in a warning: see tsunami.gov.

The tsunami

Date: December 7, 1944, 04:35 UTC
Source: Off Southeast Coast Kii Peninsula, Japan
Cause: Earthquake
Earthquake: Magnitude 8.1, 30 km deep
Maximum water height: 10 m (32.8 ft)
Runups recorded: 156
Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura): 2.5
Tsunami magnitude (Iida): 2.9
Waters: Ocean
How certain: Definite tsunami
Source location: 34.000° N, 137.100° E

The toll

Deaths: 1,223
Injuries: 2,135
Damage: Extreme (about $25 million or more); Severe (about $5 to $25 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Houses destroyed: 3,059; 29,205 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Houses damaged: 46,950 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

Reference #414:

On December 7, 1944, at 13:35 [local time] there was an earthquake in the south of Japan in the Tonankai area, with source off the southeastern coast of the Kii Peninsula, at Kumano-Yada. The earthquake and resulting tsunami caused great destruction and loss of life. Some 998 people died and 2,135 were seriously injured; 26,135 homes were totally destroyed and 46,950 homes were half destroyed; 3,059 homes were washed away and 11 burned down.

The tsunami was strongest on the southeastern coast of the Kii Peninsula (closest to the source). It reached there in about 10 minutes and had a height of 2 to 6 meters. A weak tsunami was registered along the entire coast of Japan from the Izu Peninsula to Kyushu Island. Outside Japan, the tsunami was registered by tide gauges on the coast of the Hawaiian and Aleutian Islands.

In the region of Nachi-Hamanomiya-Temma, a wave approaching from the east washed away homes, and 30-40 people died. The wave ran 200 m up the Nachi River.

Outside Japan, the tsunami was registered by tide gauges on the coast of the Hawaiian and Aleutian Islands.

Reference #239:

A magnitude 8.0 magnitude earthquake off the Kii Peninsula, Honshu, Japan, produced a tsunami with an

amplitude of 11 inches at Massacre Bay, Attu and 4 inches at

Sweeper Cove, Adak. It was not recorded elsewhere

in Alaska.

Reference #150:

(Iida, 1984) lists total 1,223 deaths, 17,347 houses collapsed, 3,129 houses washed away.

View a calculated tsunami-travel-time map.

Every runup

Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.

Where	Country	Km from source	Water height, m	Inland, m	Measured by	First wave, UTC	Deaths
Nakiri	Japan	35	3.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Katada	Japan	36	3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Funakoshi	Japan	37	3.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Fuseda	Japan	37	2.2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Wagu	Japan	39	5.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kou	Japan	42	3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Ugata	Japan	43	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Matoya	Japan	46	3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Toba	Japan	60	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Yoshizu	Japan	63	6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kowa	Japan	65	6
Kumanonada Coast	Japan	65	10		Eyewitness observation of water height
Shimazu	Japan	65	6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Ominato (Ise)	Japan	66	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nishiki	Japan	69	6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Fukue	Japan	70	2.7		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Nagura	Japan	73	6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nagashima (Kinnagashimacho)	Japan	74	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kaino	Japan	75	4.6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Tahara	Japan	75	2.5
Sugari	Japan	77	5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Haida	Japan	77	5.3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Yanoguchi	Japan	78	7.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Morozaki	Japan	78	0.5		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hayata	Japan	79	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kuki	Japan	79	7		Eyewitness observation of water height
Mikiura	Japan	79	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nako	Japan	79	5.4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Sagarimatsu	Japan	79	9		Eyewitness observation of water height
Mikiura	Japan	80	5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Motoyukino	Japan	80	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kowaki	Japan	80	3.3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Hiki	Japan	81	1		Eyewitness observation of water height
Mukai	Japan	81	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Yukino	Japan	81	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Hikimoto	Japan	81	3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kajika	Japan	82	4.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Mikisato	Japan	82	4.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nagara	Japan	82	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Suno	Japan	82	4.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Tenmaura	Japan	83	6.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Furue	Japan	83	2.7		Eyewitness observation of water height
Hobo	Japan	83	4.8		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kata	Japan	83	9		Eyewitness observation of water height
Sone	Japan	83	5.3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Enshunada Sea	Japan	84	2
Matsuzakako	Japan	84	0.6		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Owase	Japan	84	5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nikishima	Japan	85	6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Komukai	Japan	85	6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nigishima	Japan	85	6.3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kataharachonishiura	Japan	87			Eyewitness observation of water height
Yuki	Japan	87	5.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Gobo	Japan	88	0.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Atashika	Japan	88	6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Hashima	Japan	88	5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Maisaka	Japan	89	0.8		Eyewitness observation of water height
Isshiki	Japan	89	1.5		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hadasu	Japan	89	3.6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Bentenshima	Japan	89	0.9		Eyewitness observation of water height
Katanohara	Japan	89	0.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kodomari	Japan	90	4.2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Odomari	Japan	92	3.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Matsubara	Japan	93	7		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kinomoto	Japan	93	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Tsu	Japan	94	1		Eyewitness observation of water height
Hama	Japan	99	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Atawa	Japan	101	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kajiga	Japan	104	4.9		Eyewitness observation of water height
Udono	Japan	104	3.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Shingu	Japan	107	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Fukuro	Japan	108	6.2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Miwasaki	Japan	109	2.4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Sano	Japan	109	2.4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Ukui	Japan	110	3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Temma	Japan	115	5	200	Eyewitness observation of water height
Katsuura (Nachi-Katsuuracho)	Japan	115	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nachi	Japan	115	3.8		Eyewitness observation of water height		40
Tenma	Japan	115	5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Taiji	Japan	116	5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Yukawa	Japan	116	2.4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Hamanomiya	Japan	120			Eyewitness observation of water height
Urakami	Japan	121	6.2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nagoya	Japan	122	1.5		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Idosawa	Japan	122	1.6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Uragami	Japan	122	4.1		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nachi Katsu'Ura	Japan	123	2.4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kuwana	Japan	124	0.5		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Meiwa	Japan	124	1.2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Omaezaki	Japan	124	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Cape Omae	Japan	125	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Sagara	Japan	126	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Koza	Japan	130	3.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nishimukai	Japan	130	1.9		Eyewitness observation of water height
Hamasaki (Susaki)	Japan	136	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kushimoto	Japan	136	2		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 7, 04:42
Shinjo	Japan	138	1		Eyewitness observation of water height	day 7, 04:55
Katsuragi	Japan	150	4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Mikonohama	Japan	162			Eyewitness observation of water height
Tanabe	Japan	163	1		Eyewitness observation of water height
Asaragi (Tomita)	Japan	164	4.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Suruga	Japan	164	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Shimizu	Japan	170	1.1		Eyewitness observation of water height	day 7, 04:55
Osaka	Japan	170	0.25		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 7, 05:29
Matsuzaki City	Japan	172	1.5		Eyewitness observation of water height	day 7, 04:45
Tannowa	Japan	181	0.4		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Anezaki	Japan	186	2.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Shimodashidaiku	Japan	186	1.6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Shimodashisuzaki	Japan	186	2.1		Eyewitness observation of water height	day 7, 05:05
Suzaki	Japan	186	1		Eyewitness observation of water height
Koshigoe	Japan	187	1		Eyewitness observation of water height
Shimozu	Japan	187	0.5		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Izu Peninsula, Honshu	Japan	196			Eyewitness observation of water height
Uchiura	Japan	199	1.1		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Nagaoka	Japan	204	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Oshima	Japan	225	2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Shimosato	Japan	275	2.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Murotomisaki (Muroto City)	Japan	284	0.8		Eyewitness observation of water height
Tosa-Shimizu	Japan	408	0.4		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Nakajima	Japan	413	3.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Uwajima	Japan	431	0.03		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Gata	Japan	707	7.9		Eyewitness observation of water height
Meshima Island	Japan	730			Eyewitness observation of water height
Nakura	Japan	1,648	6		Eyewitness observation of water height
Goza	Japan	1,678	2.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Attu, Massacre Bay, AK, AK	United States	3,536	0.28		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 7, 09:59
Adak, Sweeper Cove, AK, AK	United States	4,173	0.1		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 7, 10:59
Honolulu, Oahu, HI, HI	United States	6,465	0.1		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 7, 13:05
Apia, Upolu Island	Samoa	7,571	0.03		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 7, 14:00
Tofino (Clayoquot),british Columbia, BC	Canada	7,700	0.06		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 7, 15:59
San Francisco, CA, CA	United States	8,586	0.02		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Port Hueneme, CA, CA	United States	9,060	0.11		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Santa Monica, CA, CA	United States	9,120	0.07		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Terminal Island (Los Angeles), CA, CA	United States	9,155	0.02		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
La Jolla, CA, CA	United States	9,288	0.1		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
San Diego, CA, CA	United States	9,304	0.04		Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)	day 7, 18:29
Arasaka	Japan		7.1		Eyewitness observation of water height
Arashika	Japan		8.4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Arata	Japan		5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Esumi	Japan		2.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Gokasyo'Ura	Japan		3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Homoto	Japan		5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kagami'Ura	Japan		2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Konza	Japan		3.4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Shimotsu	Japan		0.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Minamiwauchi	Japan		5.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kimoto	Japan		3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Mori'Ura	Japan		5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Morimatsu	Japan		4		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nanbari	Japan		3.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Nanji	Japan		4.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Narikawa	Japan		2		Eyewitness observation of water height
Okarachi	Japan		3		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kii Peninsula	Japan		5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Hachiman	Japan		2.5		Eyewitness observation of water height
Kawana	Japan		0.5		Eyewitness observation of water height

Every tsunami in 1944 The 1900s Tsunamis of Japan The earthquake This day in weather history Alerts in force

Sources

Tsunami events and runups from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI tsunami event 1756.