Are the Japanese arches photos from different periods of time the same?

Recently, there have been pictures circulating on social media about the arches in different periods of time in Japan. These claims suggest that they are the same arch that survived major disasters, namely the atomic bomb in 1945 and the tsunami in 2011.

Social Media Post

A Twitter account named “non aesthetic things,” with over 3 million followers, has shared a collage featuring two Japanese arches. The picture includes text stating, “1945, after the dropping of an atomic bomb” and “2011, after an earthquake and tsunami.” The headline at the bottom of the picture reads, “WTF IS THAT ARCH MADE OF?”, suggesting that the arches are the same. The tweet has reached over 21 million viewers so far.

Source | Archive

Apart from the viral tweet, we have found that this claim has been spreading on different platforms from time to time over the past few years.

Source | Archive

Source | Archive

After performing investigation, we found that the arches in those two picture are different ones and are in different cities in Japan.

Photo 1: The Torii Gate in Nagasaki

Upon using the Image Reverse Search feature to trace the photo’s origin, our investigation revealed that the arch depicted in the first picture, indeed dates back to 1945, following the devastating U.S. atomic bomb attack on Nagasaki. The historical significance of this torii gate lies in its survival amidst the immense destruction caused by the bomb. While numerous structures in Nagasaki were destroyed or damaged, this particular torii gate managed to withstand the catastrophic event, serving as a symbolic testament to the resilience of the city and its people.

Picture Source

Claim 2: The Arches in Otsuchi

The second photo shows the arch surrounded by debris, which is actually from the Kozuchi shrine in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture, on the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan. This was a result of the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Otsuchi in 2011. You can read the news about it here. Otsuchi is located on the opposite side of Nagasaki. For reference, you can view the map here.

Source: Reuters

In conclusion, while both the arches in Nagasaki and Otsuchi hold symbolic significance and serve as reminders of Japan’s history and resilience, they are distinct arches located in different Japanese cities.