In 1634 , there was a considerable famine which may have contributed to the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637 . The reduced production of rice was observed occasionally from time to time ; 1729 was also the year of famine , and it was recorded that there was only 11 % of the mean annual production . In addition to famine , there was a peculiar tsunami . In 1792 , a large mountain , Mayu Yama ( Maeyama ) , at the foot of the volcano Mt. Unzen ( Nagasaki Prefecture ) collapsed with volcanic earthquakes , produced a great tsunami that struck the seashore of Kumamoto Prefecture . In all , 15,000 people died . This was the second largest tsunami in the history of Japan , after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami .
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
History of Kumamoto Prefecture