1891 Mino-Owari earthquake
Scarp at the Neodani Fault can be seen in the center of the picture
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| Date | October 28, 1891 |
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| Origin time | 6:38 (local) |
| Magnitude | 8.0 Ms |
| Depth | 10 km (6.2 mi) |
| Epicenter | 35°36′N 136°36′E / 35.6°N 136.6°ECoordinates: 35°36′N 136°36′E / 35.6°N 136.6°E |
| Type | Oblique-slip |
| Areas affected |
Mino Province Owari Province |
| Peak acceleration | 400 Gals |
| Landslides | ~ 10,000 |
| Casualties | 7,273 dead 17,175 injured |
The 1891 Mino–Owari earthquake (美濃尾張地震 Mino-Owari Jishin?) struck the former Japanese provinces of Mino and Owari in the Nōbi Plain in the early morning of October 28 with a surface wave magnitude of 8.0. The event, also referred to as the Nōbi earthquake (濃尾地震 Nōbi Jishin?) or the Great Nōbi earthquake (濃尾大地震 Nōbi Daijishin?), is the strongest known inland earthquake to have occurred in the Japanese archipelago.
The earthquake came at a time when Japan was undergoing a transformation into a more industrial nation and while advancing its scientific understanding in many fields. Damage from the event was widespread and the loss of life was significant. The many kilometers of visible fault breaks on the surface of the earth presented scientists with opportunities for field investigations that ultimately lead to an improved understanding of the fault scarps that earthquakes often generate.
Records of historical earthquakes and tsunami extend further back in time in Japan than any other country that lies along the Pacific Rim (the first documented event occurred in 416 AD). These historical documents supported the date verification of the 1700 Cascadia earthquake that occurred off the Pacific northwest coast of North America. The dilemma of earthquakes in Japan was made a priority following the 1854 Ansei-Nankai event that brought great destruction to the southwest portion of the country. With the onset of the Meiji period, the feudal government system was superseded by an empire that began to focus on advancing the Japanese society up to Western standards, especially in science.
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