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Tokyo History
Tokyo's rise to importance can be largely attributed to two men: Tokugawa Ieyasu
and Emperor Meiji. In 1603, after unifying the warring states of Japan, Shogun
Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo (now Tokyo) his base. As a result, the city developed
rapidly and grew to become one of the largest cities in the world with a population
topping one million by the 18th century. It became the de facto capital of Japan
even while the emperor lived in Kyoto, the imperial capital. (See Edo.)
After 263 years, the shogunate was overthrown under the banner of restoring
imperial rule. In 1869, the figurehead 17-year-old Emperor Meiji moved to Edo,
which was renamed "Tokyo" ("Eastern Capital") the year before. Tokyo was
already the nation's political, economic, and cultural center, and the emperor's
residence made it a de facto imperial capital as well with the former Edo Castle
becoming the Imperial Palace. The city of Tokyo was established, and continued to
be the capital until it was abolished as a municipality in 1943 and merged with the
"Metropolitan Prefecture" of Tokyo.
Tokyo, like Osaka has been designed since about the turn of the century (1900) to
be rail-centric, that is centered around major train stations in a high density
fashion, so suburban railways were built relatively cheaply at street level. This
differs from other world cities such as Los Angeles that are low density automobile
centric, and though expressways have been built, the basic design hasn't changed
to this day.
Tokyo went on to suffer two major catastrophes and has recovered remarkably
from both. One was the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, and the other was World
War II. The firebombings in 1945 were almost as devastating as the atomic bombs
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. Large areas of the city were flattened.
Tokyo's rise to importance can be largely attributed to two men: Tokugawa Ieyasu
and Emperor Meiji. In 1603, after unifying the warring states of Japan, Shogun
Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo (now Tokyo) his base. As a result, the city developed
rapidly and grew to become one of the largest cities in the world with a population
topping one million by the 18th century. It became the de facto capital of Japan
even while the emperor lived in Kyoto, the imperial capital. (See Edo.)
After 263 years, the shogunate was overthrown under the banner of restoring
imperial rule. In 1869, the figurehead 17-year-old Emperor Meiji moved to Edo,
which was renamed "Tokyo" ("Eastern Capital") the year before. Tokyo was
already the nation's political, economic, and cultural center, and the emperor's
residence made it a de facto imperial capital as well with the former Edo Castle
becoming the Imperial Palace. The city of Tokyo was established, and continued to
be the capital until it was abolished as a municipality in 1943 and merged with the
"Metropolitan Prefecture" of Tokyo.
Tokyo, like Osaka has been designed since about the turn of the century (1900) to
be rail-centric, that is centered around major train stations in a high density
fashion, so suburban railways were built relatively cheaply at street level. This
differs from other world cities such as Los Angeles that are low density automobile
centric, and though expressways have been built, the basic design hasn't changed
to this day.
Tokyo went on to suffer two major catastrophes and has recovered remarkably
from both. One was the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, and the other was World
War II. The firebombings in 1945 were almost as devastating as the atomic bombs
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. Large areas of the city were flattened.
After the war, Tokyo was completely rebuilt, and showcased to the world during the
city's 1964 Summer Olympics. Tokyo became the largest city in the world in 1965
(taking the lead from New York). The 1970s brought new high-rise developments
such as Sunshine 60, a new and controversial airport at Narita (well outside
Tokyo), and a population increase to about 11 million (in the metropolitan area).
Tokyo's subway and commuter rail network became the busiest in the world as
more and more people moved to the area. In the 1980s, real estate prices
skyrocketed during an economic bubble: many got rich quick, but the bubble burst
in the early 1990s and many companies, banks, and individuals were caught with
real estate shrinking in value. A major recession followed, making the 1990s
Japan's "lost decade" from which it is now slowly recovering.
Tokyo still sees new urban developments on large lots of less profitable land.
Recent projects include Ebisu Garden Place, Tennozu Isle, Shiodome, Roppongi
Hills, Shinagawa (now also a Shinkansen station), and Tokyo Station (Marunouchi
side). Buildings of significance are demolished for more up-to-date shopping
facilities such as Omotesando Hills. Land reclamation projects in Tokyo have also
been going on for centuries. The most prominent is the Odaiba area, now a major
shopping and entertainment center.
Tokyo was hit by powerful earthquakes in 1703, 1782, 1812, 1855 and 1923. The
1923 earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 8.3, killed 142,000 people.
There have been various plans proposed for transferring national government
functions from Tokyo to secondary capitals in other regions of Japan, in order to
slow down rapid development in Tokyo and revitalize economically lagging areas of
the country. These plans have been controversial within Japan and have yet to be
realized.
Due to evolution in the method in which Japanese letters are transliterated into
their roman representation, older texts may refer to the city as "Tokio."
city's 1964 Summer Olympics. Tokyo became the largest city in the world in 1965
(taking the lead from New York). The 1970s brought new high-rise developments
such as Sunshine 60, a new and controversial airport at Narita (well outside
Tokyo), and a population increase to about 11 million (in the metropolitan area).
Tokyo's subway and commuter rail network became the busiest in the world as
more and more people moved to the area. In the 1980s, real estate prices
skyrocketed during an economic bubble: many got rich quick, but the bubble burst
in the early 1990s and many companies, banks, and individuals were caught with
real estate shrinking in value. A major recession followed, making the 1990s
Japan's "lost decade" from which it is now slowly recovering.
Tokyo still sees new urban developments on large lots of less profitable land.
Recent projects include Ebisu Garden Place, Tennozu Isle, Shiodome, Roppongi
Hills, Shinagawa (now also a Shinkansen station), and Tokyo Station (Marunouchi
side). Buildings of significance are demolished for more up-to-date shopping
facilities such as Omotesando Hills. Land reclamation projects in Tokyo have also
been going on for centuries. The most prominent is the Odaiba area, now a major
shopping and entertainment center.
Tokyo was hit by powerful earthquakes in 1703, 1782, 1812, 1855 and 1923. The
1923 earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 8.3, killed 142,000 people.
There have been various plans proposed for transferring national government
functions from Tokyo to secondary capitals in other regions of Japan, in order to
slow down rapid development in Tokyo and revitalize economically lagging areas of
the country. These plans have been controversial within Japan and have yet to be
realized.
Due to evolution in the method in which Japanese letters are transliterated into
their roman representation, older texts may refer to the city as "Tokio."
Related Pages
=> Getting To Tokyo
=> Transportation In Tokyo
=> Tokyo Maps
Helpful Links
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=> Getting To Tokyo
=> Transportation In Tokyo
=> Tokyo Maps
Helpful Links
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