Tokyo gardens in the 1923 earthquake

The great earthquake and fire of 1923 revealed the efficacy, or utilitarian side, of our gardens in Tokyo. Tens of thousands of people took refuge in large gardens throughout the city and saved their lives. In some instances, all the trees in the garden were burned to the ground, but many lives were saved through the ponds. In no few instances did the gardens check the havoc of the sweeping conflagration and hundreds of houses behind them escaped destruction. These facts are bound to influence our gardens in future.