World · East Asia & Pacific · 4 hrs ago
Kobe group publishes 125 essays on memories of 1995 earthquake
A civic group in Kobe has published a collection of 125 essays about the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, which heavily damaged the city.
The book, published in August 2026, marks 30 years since the disaster.
Its contributors range from teenagers to people in their 90s, including some who were born after the earthquake.
Their essays describe how the disaster shaped survivors and affected younger family members who grew up hearing about it.
The group has published accounts of the earthquake since 1995, and says printed books can help preserve memories for future generations.
The essays are also available online, and the book is being sold at independent bookstores.
A Kobe civic group has published a collection of 125 essays reflecting on the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake.
The essays are by people ranging from their teens to their 90s, including 12 contributors who were born after the disaster.
The book, titled “Memoirs in the 30th year,” was published in August 2026 and is sold at independent bookstores.
The group began soliciting essays in January 2024 ahead of the earthquake’s 30th anniversary.
The essays are also available online.
- Who
- A Kobe civic group dedicated to preserving records of the 1995 earthquake published the collection.
- What
- It published 125 essays about memories and experiences connected to the earthquake.
- When
- The book was published in August 2026.
- Where
- Kobe, Japan. The essays are also available on the Design and Creative Center Kobe website.
- Why
- The group sought to preserve and pass on memories of the earthquake ahead of its 30th anniversary.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Books are a medium that can pass memories on even 100 years from now.
Reading this essay made me feel that we were right to solicit submissions.
I realized that even though I did not experience the earthquake myself, its memories are etched into me, so I submitted an essay.
The Great Hanshin Earthquake struck and heavily damaged Kobe.
The civic group published 10 volumes of accounts, beginning four months after the earthquake.
Takamori published a new collection of accounts.
Takamori published a collection of interviews with contributors.
The group solicited essays ahead of the earthquake’s 30th anniversary.
The group published “Memoirs in the 30th year.
- Essay count
- 125
- Publication
- Memoirs in the 30th year
- Publication month
- August 2026
- Essay solicitation
- January to December 2024
- Group secretary-general
- Junko Takamori
- Online publication
- Design and Creative Center Kobe website
Sources
Related news
13-year-old charged with murder after man stabbed in Sydney’s west
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward East Sea, South Korea says
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward eastern waters, Seoul says
China sanctions Paraguay and Belize ministers over Taiwan ties
Russian emergencies minister visits North Korea for disaster cooperation talks
UAE links Melbourne mosque to flydubai suspect; imam rejects “false allegations”
North Korea fires several ballistic missiles toward the East Sea
Indonesia moves eight endangered orangutans to safety after Borneo fires
Former students back ICC President Tomoko Akane after U.S. sanctions
Greens urge Australia to block planned US execution livestream
North Korea fires two suspected ballistic missiles, Japan says
