“The Tengu rock, Mt. Bandai”, Fukushima Prefecture, c. 1920.

“Mt. Bandai (6,481 ft.) is the name of a group of several peaks. It is also known as Aizu-Huzi for its resemblance to Mt. Huzi [Fuji].

“The group lies approximately 3 to 4 m. N. of Lake Inawashiro, and an unsurpassed view of the surrounding country is obtained from the summit. Many lakes were formed on the N. slope of the mountain at the time of the eruption in 1888, when the two peaks of the group blew up.*

“There are three paths to the summit, of which the E. from Inawashiro Station, is the easiest. The distance to the summit is about 7 m. and the climb requires about 7 hours. The path leads past the shrine of Hanitu-zinsya (1.5 m.) to the summit of Akahani Peak via the Ama-no-iwa (‘Heavenly Rock’) and the Tengu-no-horiwari (‘Goblin’s Canal’).

“From this peak a short descent to Numa-no-taira is followed by another ascent to the Tengu-iwa (‘Goblin’s Rock’). From here a fascinating view of the lakes on the N. slope and the crater can be obtained, amid a strong odor of sulphur and a continual rumble from the crater. Another short ascent leads to the Kobo-no-mizu, a small stream, and the final height is in sight.”

– Japan: The Official Guide, Japan Government Railways, 1941

“The Tengu rock, Mt. Bandai”, Fukushima Prefecture, c. 1920. Legends tell of Tengu – spirits from Japanese mythology – dancing amongst the boulders.

“In the millennium before its 1888 eruption, Mount Bandai had a conical profile and had been compared in literature with Mount Fuji. Technically, Mt. Bandai is a stratovolcano [also known as a composite volcano]. Its most recent eruption prior to 1888 had occurred in 806.

“The July 15, 1888 eruption of Mount Bandai was a major volcanic. Pyroclastic flows buried villages on the northern foot of the mountain, and devastated the eastern part of Bandai region, Iwashiro Province (now part of Fukushima Prefecture) north of Tokyo. At least 477 people were killed, and hundreds more were injured and rendered homeless.

“… The eruption transformed hundreds of square kilometers of forest and farmland around the mountain into a wasteland. Several villages were completely buried under landslides, which also considerably altered the topography of the region by diverting rivers and creating a number of new lakes. Approximately 1.5 cubic kilometers of the summit of the mountain had collapsed, and flowed northwards.

“Japanese geologists Seikei Sekiya and Y. Kikuchi from the Imperial University of Tokyo visited Bandai within days of the eruption. After spending several months studying the new crater and the devastated areas, they published a report in English (‘The eruption of Bandai-san’, Tokyo Imperial University College of Sciences Journal 3 (1890), pp 91–171), which is considered a classic in volcanology.

“A photograph of the ruined mountain was the first news photograph printed by the Yomiuri Shimbun in Japan.

“The eruption of Mount Bandai was the first major disaster faced by the fledgling Japanese Red Cross, which moved in quickly to provide disaster relief.”

– Wikipedia

* The eruption of Mt. Bandai that occurred on July 15th, 1888, blew off the N. half of the two peaks, Ko-Bandai and Kusi-ga-mine, causing great destruction. The eruption was preceded by terriffic rumbling, resembling distant thunder, from early in the morning, accompanied by a terrifying earthquake. This was followed shortly after by the eruption of Ko-Bandai, from which a column of black smoke rose shutting out the sun, while the darkness was increased by the fall of ashes … The damming up of the Rivers Hibara and Nagase resulted in the formation of new lakes. – Japan: The Official Guide, 1941