英語訳
**[Header, outside the frame]** Newly Printed, Eleventh Month of Bunkyū 3 (1863), Year of the Boar
"Fire Safety" [white text on black background] **Osaka: Three Great Fires, Past and Present (from ancient times to today)** [Title]
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**[Upper Section]**
- The Great Fire of Bunkyū 3 (1863), Year of the Boar [boxed] — Detailed Investigation [boxed]
- The Great Fire of Tenpō 8 (1837), Year of the Rooster (*also called "the Osaka Burning"*) [boxed] — Shimanōchi Section [boxed]
- The Great Fire of Kyōhō 9 (1724), Year of the Dragon (*also called "the Kanaya Myōchi Burning"*) [boxed]
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**[Middle Section] — For Your Edification**
Though everyone knows that fire is a fearsome thing, many people casually stomp out flames with their feet. This is a grave misunderstanding. Fire is of the yang principle and governs the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Fire is truly the foremost of all useful things, and must not be treated carelessly. If one treats fire with care and respect, and disposes of it properly with a mindset of reverence, one shall be spared from such conflagrations. People must truly come together in heart and mind in their use of fire. A great fire is nothing but Heaven's warning to those who treat fire with negligence. Please take this deeply to heart.
From ancient times to this very year, such great fires have occurred three times. Therefore, we now present all three in illustrated form.
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**[Lower Section — First Column, Rightmost]**
On the night of the twenty-first day of the eleventh month of Bunkyū 3, Year of the Boar (1863), at the Hour of the Dog (around 8 p.m.), a fire broke out from a place north of the eastern end of Shinmachibashi Bridge. With a fierce westerly wind, the fire spread instantly to the east; then the wind shifted to the northwest, moving the fire to the southeast; it changed again to the southwest, burning intensely toward the northeast. From there, sparks flew to Uemachi, and the fire's intensity grew ever more fierce. Both Senbayama and Uemachi burst into flames simultaneously, and it appeared that all of Osaka was engulfed in fire. The shock felt by men and women, young and old alike, was truly beyond the power of brush and paper to describe. In the end, the fire consumed everything to the eastern edge of Osaka. Let those who see this imagine the chaos that overtook the city. The fire was finally brought under control at the Hour of the Snake (around 10 a.m.) on the twenty-third day of the same month.
Number of town blocks burned: 152
Number of houses destroyed: over 4,700
Number of hearths (households): over 25,000
Storehouses (dozō): over 320
Shrines and temples: over 80
Deaths: 46
Injuries: Countless
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**[Second Column from Right]**
Throughout history, such a great fire has been a rare occurrence in Osaka. We therefore present these three fires in illustrated form on a single sheet, both as a tale to be passed down to future generations, and in the hope that it may serve as a reminder of the importance of fire safety.
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**[Third Column from Right]**
On the morning of the nineteenth day of the second month of Tenpō 8, Year of the Rooster (1837), at the Hour of the Rabbit (around 6 a.m.), a fire broke out in Tenma. The fierce wind caused sparks to fly to many locations; the fire burned as far as Uemachi and the area around Osaka Castle. North Senba, Chōjamachi, and large residences in various locations were burned down. The fire spread southward as far as Honmachi. Furthermore, at the scene of the fire, suspicious-looking individuals of unknown identity ran amok throughout Osaka, creating an indescribable state of confusion among the people. As a result, people fled to provinces and villages throughout the land like scattered baby spiders, and for some time afterward, news of this great fire was the talk of the entire country.
It was truly an unprecedented great fire and a massive upheaval.
Number of town blocks burned: 112
Number of houses destroyed: 3,389
Number of hearths (households): 18,578
Storehouses (dozō): 411 locations
Underground storage cellars (anagura): 130 locations
Temples and shrines: 36 locations
Deaths and injuries: Countless
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**[Fourth Column from Right]**
At midday on the twenty-first day of the third month of Kyōhō 9, Year of the Dragon (1724), at half past the Hour of the Sheep (around 1 p.m.), a fire broke out at the residence of a person named Kanaya Myōchi, on the second block of Tachibana Street in Minamihorie. A fierce southerly wind spread the fire to Shinmachi, which burned all the way to Kitano. To the west, the fire was stopped at Amida-ike Pond; to the east, it was brought under control around Momenba-shi Bridge. The fire spread northward along Nishi-yokobori and moved to the north side of Bakurōmachi, from which point all of Senba to the north was burned to the ground. Sparks also flew to Tenma, burning as far as Kawasaki; Nakanoshima, Dōjima, West Tenma, and East Tenma were all completely destroyed. On the morning of the twenty-second day, as the wind shifted to the northeast, sparks reached Uemachi; with the north wind growing ever fiercer, the fire consumed all of Uemachi, then spread to Kōzu. All of Shimanōchi was burned, and from there sparks flew to the theaters of Dōtonbori, with fire spreading in multiple directions, completely burning Namba, Shinchi, and Nagamachi.
At that time, more than 430 of Osaka's over 480 town blocks were burned. It was truly the greatest fire in Osaka's history. Parents were separated from children, brothers from brothers, and people fled not only within the Kinai region but as far as Tanba, Tango, Iga, Ise, Ōmi, Harima, and Awaji. Their suffering was truly beyond words.
Number of houses destroyed: over 28,000
Number of hearths (households): over 98,700
Storehouses (dozō): over 2,800
Deaths: approximately 30,000
Injuries: over 120,000