According to Japanese legend, a priest in 16th-century Tokyo was able to sense when evil spirits were present, and that they were inhabiting a long-sleeved kimono. The innocent-looking garment had been owned by three teenage girls, all of whom had mysteriously fallen ill and died. As the fathers of the girls watched, the priest set a torch to the kimono. But the very instand the cloth caught fire, a fierce wind kicked up and swept the flames out of control, igniting the wooden dwellings nearby. The "Long-Sleeved Kimono Fire," as it is known today, killed over 100,000 people and burned three-quarters of Tokyo to the ground.
No comments:
Post a Comment