Ancient cities. A brief history of Tokyo: from a fishing village to the largest metropolis in the world A story about the city of Tokyo

Tokyo is located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu in Japan. It is considered one of Japan's 47 prefectures and is commonly referred to as the capital of Japan, with the government of Japan and the Emperor of Japan residing in Chiyoda Ward. Tokyo is a place where the urgent rhythms of consumer culture collide with quieter corners that live in the spirit of old traditions. With a population of more than 12 million people, or about 10 percent of Japan's population, it is by far the country's most populous prefecture. As a national center of politics, business, finance, education, media and popular culture, Tokyo has the country's highest concentration of corporate headquarters, financial institutions, universities and colleges, museums, theaters, shopping and entertainment venues.

Climate of Tokyo

The city of Tokyo lies in a humid subtropical climate zone with hot, humid summers and generally mild winters with cool periods. Annual precipitation averages about 1,530 millimeters, with wetter summers and drier winters. Snowfall is sporadic, but occurs almost annually. On average, the warmest month(s) are July and August. On average, the warmest month is August. On average, the coolest month is January.

A Brief History of Tokyo

Tokyo was originally a fishing village called Edo. In 1508, the city became the center of government when Tokugawa Ieyasu became shogun. The city grew rapidly and had a million inhabitants from the beginning of the 18th century. This period ended when American Commodore Matthew C. Perry arrived in Japan, opening the harbors to foreign goods. This caused the prices of goods to rise. The people reacted violently, and supporters of Emperor Meiji used the situation to overthrow Yoshinuba, the last Tokugawa shogun, in 1866.

After the Shogun's reign ended, Emperor Meiji moved from Kyoto to Edo. The city was renamed Tokyo, meaning "Eastern Capital", and it became the official capital. Construction of a dense network of metro stations has begun. The city grew around it, focusing on the subway more than cars, and eventually turned it into a significant transport system Tokyo. Although development continued, it was halted by the 1922 Kanto earthquake (about 140,000 casualties) and World War II air raids. It was only after the city's unification with the prefecture that it was successfully rebuilt and chosen to host the 1964 Summer Olympics. The 1970s brought massive development and the population increased to 11 million - after the war he counted only 2.8 million.

In 2011, a major earthquake struck Japan but did little damage to Tokyo itself, while a tsunami destroyed a northern nuclear power plant and triggered a nuclear crisis.

Tokyo landmark

Tokyo has the title of the most expensive city in the world. The cultural part of Tokyo is known for its endless number of museums, various theaters, festivals, international cuisine and professional sports clubs.

An important landmark of the Marunout area is the Emperor's Palace with its unforgettable 17th-century parks, surrounded by high walls. Still in use by the emperor's family, it is located where the feudal lord Otta Dokan first erected a fortress in 1456, a focal point from which the city gradually spread. Just as famous as the palace is the Niyubashi Bridge leading to its interior, a structure that takes its name (“double bridge”) from its reflection in the water. Other notable places are the two-meter thick wall around the castle and the gate, one of which leads to the East Garden of Higas Gjoen, one of the few places open to the public. One of the fortresses that you can visit is Edo (Chiyoda) Castle, built in 1456, located in the Chiyoda district of Tokyo.

Ginza is the busiest shopping district, it is as famous as Times Square, and much older: it was the commercial core of the country for centuries, and it was where the five ancient roads meeting big cities countries. On weekends when everything is open it's the best place for shoppers as traffic is blocked, making it the world's largest pedestrian zone; There is also the famous Kabuk-za Theater, where traditional Kabuk performances are held, and the Kabuk Theater. Shimbashi Enbujo, where the Azuma-adori and Banraku dances are staged.
In Tokyo's Asakusa district, the ornate Sen-ji Temple - the city's most famous shrine - stands at the end of a long street of shops filled with masks, carvings, toys, kimonos, textiles and precious goods. Dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of compassion, the temple was founded in 644 AD. and retains its original appearance, despite the fact that it was rebuilt several times.

Accommodation in Tokyo

Tokyo is a huge city. So it's really important to choose good area for accommodation. It is worth adhering to three criteria when choosing a hotel.

1) It should be next to the Yamanote Line, which is the most important mode of transportation in the city.
2) He must have a lot good restaurants and shops within walking distance.
3) The area must be attractive.

Without a doubt, best part The cities are those located near Tokyo Station and in the two major urban centers on the western side: Shinjuku and Shibuya. Between Tokyo Station and these two centers you can find Roppongi, which, despite not being on the Yamanote Line, is great place for a relaxing stay because of all the restaurants and attractions nearby.

How to get to Tokyo

By plane. Tokyo has two airports: Narita Airport handles most international flights and only a small number of domestic flights. It is located 60 kilometers from the center of Tokyo. Centrally located, Haneda Airport operates fewer international flights and most domestic flights.

On shinkansen - Most lines go to Tokyo. It has direct trains to/from Kyushu, Kanazawa, Niigata and various destinations in the Tohoku and Hokkaido region.

Tokyo city transport

Japan is home to one of the most extensive systems public transport in the world. For newcomers, it may seem confusing as there are several different train systems: the JR East network, two subway systems, various private lines.

The best train line is JR Yamanote, which loops around central Tokyo. JR lines are color coded.

Two underground stations - Tokyo Subway (nine lines) and Toei (four lines). They are useful for exploring the Yamanote area. Trains run frequently.

Buses run less frequently and are slower than trains and can be a difficult way to get around the city unless one speaks Japanese, as most signs are not marked on English language.

Buses operate at a fixed price, with Toei buses costing 200 yen and other private companies 210 yen.

Ferry. Tokyo Cruise Ship operates a series of water bus ferries along the Sumida River and Tokyo Bay. Its six lines include Happy Dog Cruise and Tokyo Big Sight Palette Town Line, and they offer recorded tours in English and Japanese.

The word "Tokyo" translated from Japanese means "Eastern Capital". The city bearing this name is the capital of Japan and is an agglomeration located in the Kanto region, in the east of the main Japanese island Honshu. It consists of 23 districts on the territory of the former independent administrative unit - Tokyo city. In 1943, the city of Tokyo was abolished as an administrative unit. Now these districts, along with the cities and municipalities of the western Tama region, as well as southern islands Izu and Ogasawara form Tokyo Prefecture.

As evidenced by archaeological finds, the territory of the city was inhabited back in the Stone Age. It was originally called Edo and was a small fishing port. Around 1457, daimyo (major military feudal lord) Ota Dokan ordered the construction of a city with a fortress wall near this settlement. This city only gained importance in 1590, when it came into the possession of the shogun Tokugawa Ieasu (1543-1616).

In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu established Edo as the capital of the shogunate, which was the true power in Japan, while the powerless tenno (emperor) still sat in the official capital of Kyoto. During Ieasu's reign, the city of Edo was restored and expanded. The area around it was called Yamanote.

Edo was often hit by devastating earthquakes and large fires. So, around 1657, a major fire claimed the lives of several thousand people and destroyed more than 60% of the then territory of the city. The shogunate used this circumstance to reorganize the city's structure, which was aimed mainly at preventing fires and strengthening the defensive structures of the fortified city of Edo. At this stage, the systematic transfer of sanctuaries and temples was carried out, as well as the resettlement of townspeople to the newly built outer areas of the city.

The faster growth of Edo was facilitated by Tokugawa Ieyasu's order to his daimyo to build their own residences in the city, in which their families were to be kept practically as hostages (an order from the Sankin Kotai, which obliged the daimyo to periodically come to work at the shogun's residence). At the beginning of the 18th century, many artisans and merchants settled in Edo and were used to provide for the needs of the shogun's court.

In 1868, by order of Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito, 1852-1912), the imperial court was moved to Edo, and the city was renamed Tokyo, that is, the “Eastern capital”, or rather “ Imperial residence in the east."

In 1872, a major fire destroyed the districts of Ginza and Marunouchi. The restoration and associated modernization of the city's appearance were carried out according to Western models. The layout was entrusted to an English architect who wanted to create the appearance of a city that would combine different European styles (streets according to Paris, and the design of houses according to the London model). Despite the population's somewhat ambivalent attitude towards the new, Western-style buildings, the then governor of Tokyo Prefecture, Yuri Kimimasa, invited artisans and builders to Tokyo to begin work. In the Ginza district, reconstruction had to begin as quickly as possible, since the railway line between Yokohama and Shimbashi was to be opened there. At the same time, space was freed up for new architecture by moving traditional residential buildings and warehouse buildings to secondary streets.

The most severe natural disasters in the modern history of Tokyo were the Great Kanto Earthquake and the fire that occurred on September 1, 1923, during which the main part of the city was destroyed. The restoration, which was completed in 1930, saw the construction of over 200,000 new buildings, including many in Western style, as well as 7 new reinforced concrete bridges over the Sumida River and several parks.

In 1943, the city of Tokyo was abolished as an administrative unit. During World War II, on November 24, 1944, the United States began bombing Tokyo. On February 25 and March 10, 1945, American bombers carried out heavy bombing attacks on the city. Entire areas of the city with traditional wooden architecture were destroyed and burned, killing over 100 thousand people. The historic imperial palace was also destroyed.

From September 1945 to April 1952, the city was occupied by American troops. Against imperial palace was the headquarters of General Douglas MacArthur, who, as commander-in-chief of the Allied forces, led the occupation authorities. Tokyo then entered a period of rapid recovery and economic growth, which became especially intense after the outbreak of the Korean War.

The population of the city of Tokyo is 12.5 million people. It is the capital of Japan and the center of the prefecture of the same name, which is located on the island of Honshu.

Tokyo capital of Japan

Tokyo is the capital of the Japanese state, its administrative, commercial and industrial center.

Tokyo on the map of Japan

Tokyo city video. Very beautiful.

A Brief History of Tokyo

In the 15th century, the Edo Fortress was built on the coast of Honshu. In 1590, the castle was captured by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa and Edo shogunate received the status of the capital of the shogunate, and Kyoto remained the imperial capital. In 1615, Ieyasu's troops defeated the enemies of the Tokugawa - the Toyotomi clan, and thanks to this, the Tokugawa clan ruled Japan for three hundred years. During the reign of the shogunate, Edo developed rapidly and in the 18th century became one of the most big cities globe.

In the 19th century, the Meiji Restoration took place, as a result of which the shogunate was overthrown and power returned to the hands of the emperor. In 1869, Emperor Mutsuhito renamed Edo to Tokyo and made it the imperial capital. At the end of the 19th century, shipbuilding and industry began to actively develop; Railway between Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe and Osaka.

On September 1, 1923, an earthquake of incredible strength occurred in Tokyo and nearby areas, which claimed the lives of 90,000 people.

Photo of Tokyo, 1923

During World War II, the city was often subjected to devastating bombings. The air attack on March 8, 1945 killed more than 80,000 people. After Japan's surrender, the United States occupied Tokyo. Several American army bases are still located here.

In the second half of the 20th century, Japan's economy began to develop rapidly, and in 1966 it became the second largest in the world after America. This revival was called the “Japanese Economic Miracle.” In 1964, the Summer Olympics were held in Tokyo.

Sights of Tokyo

Samurai Sword Museum

Fans of Japanese bladed weapons simply need to visit this museum, which houses all kinds of samurai weapons and armor. The impressive collection includes katanas, wakizashi, tanto, tachi and many other deadly, yet beautiful items.

Museum exhibits

Imperial Palace and Garden

In the center of Tokyo stands the Castle of the Emperor of Japan, which was built in the 16th century.

The palace area is divided into two parts - western and eastern. In the western one, in the Fukiage garden, there is the emperor’s castle itself with personal chambers, rooms for his relatives and employees. Visitors are not allowed here. The bright Eastern Garden of the Imperial Palace blooms in the eastern wing.

Photo of the imperial palace

Tokyo Tower

One of the main attractions is the Tokyo Tower. Residents call it Tokyo Eiffel Tower. For a long time she was tallest tower in the world. It has two observation decks from which you can admire a beautiful panorama of the city and Tokyo Bay.

Photo Tokyo Tower

In 2003, the Roppongi Hills building complex was erected, which houses several floors of shops, offices of major companies, a Hyatt hotel, a television studio, a cinema, concert hall and countless restaurants and eateries.

On the top floor there is an excellent Observation deck, which offers views of the whole of Tokyo.

Tea ceremony at Happoen Garden

If you visit Japan, you definitely need to attend a tea ceremony. It lasts about half an hour and is held on a tatami or at a table.

Happoen Garden

Omote-sando and Harajuku Fashion Center

Residents proudly call Omote-sando Avenue Tokyo Champs Elysees. Branches of the most famous fashion and design companies are located here. Young people love to walk around this beautiful area and spend their free time here.

Omote-sando Street

Meiji Shrine

Emperor Meiji made a huge contribution to the history and development of Japan. On the threshold of the 20th century, he was able to turn a backward Japan, closed from the outside world, into a powerful world power. After the death of the emperor, the Japanese erected a beautiful temple in honor of the great reformer and his wife.

Photo Meiji Shrine

Man-made island in Tokyo Bay Odaiba

You can book a cruise on the Sumidagawa River, which is crossed by 13 bridges with unique history. The last destination of the voyage will be the man-made island of Odaiba. Exhibition halls for such large companies like Panasonic and Toyota. It is especially beautiful here at night - you can admire Tokyo at night with countless lights and the most beautiful landmark - the Rainbow Bridge.

Photo Odaiba Island

Ginza – shopping mall Tokyo

This area is home to some of Tokyo's best shopping and dining. The only negative is the very high prices.

Tsukiji Fish Market

Tsukiji is the country's largest fish and vegetable market rising sun, auctions are held here where tuna is sold. The price of one mascara can reach tens of thousands of dollars. At 6 o'clock in the morning, numerous sushi bars open near the market, where you can taste sushi made from freshly caught fish.

Tokyo fish market

Article genre - Cities of Japan

The history of the emergence and development of Tokyo. Development and historical events in Tokyo.

• Last minute tours to Japan

Tokyo - today's capital of Japan - was not always the main city of the country. For a long time, Edo (the former name of Tokyo) was a provincial fishing village, but in 1603 the military government of the Tokugawa Shogunate was founded and Tokugawa Ieyasu chose Edo as his capital. The reign of the shogunate lasted until 1868 and is remembered in history as the Edo period.

The convenient location of the city contributed to the increase in the number of immigrants from other parts of the country, and in the 18th century Edo became the most big city peace. After the Meiji Restoration (1867), power passed into the hands of the emperor, who moved from Kyoto to Edo and established a residence in the castle that had previously belonged to the Tokugawa shogun. In 1868, Edo received a new name - Tokyo, which translated means " eastern capital».

During the era of the country's isolation (when the Japanese could not leave its borders and foreigners were prohibited from entering) from 1637 to 1868. Edo was the center of national culture. And after the opening of the borders in Edo, a process of rapid modernization began. It was here that Japan's first railways, stone houses, factories, trams and telephones appeared; gas and electricity were installed.

The rapid development of Tokyo was stopped in 1923 by a devastating earthquake (the Great Kanto Earthquake). Almost two-thirds of the city's buildings were destroyed immediately, fires that broke out completed the destruction of the city, killing more than 143 thousand people. The second difficult test for Tokyo in the 20th century was the American bombing during World War II.

The reconstruction carried out after the war completely changed the appearance of the city; practically nothing remained of old Edo. Skyscrapers made of glass and metal obscured the wooden buildings. Part of the atmosphere of antiquity can be felt if you turn inland from the busy streets into quiet neighborhoods, almost each of which has a small Shinto or Buddhist temple and an authentic market. The most traditional areas of Tokyo are Ueno and Asakusa.

Today's Tokyo consists of 23 districts, 27 adjacent cities, one county and 4 territorial units on islands lost in Pacific Ocean. The expansion of the metropolis occurred due to the absorption of nearby territories, each of which already had its own structure formed at that time. Therefore, in Greater Tokyo it is now difficult to identify a single center; Tokyo, rather, is a motley mosaic of districts closely pressed against each other - each with its own character and set of special features.

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In our “short facts about countries” section, there is an overview of the founding of Tokyo, the current capital of Japan.

To begin with, let us recall that at its founding, Tokyo, then still a small rural settlement, was called Edo, which means “Gateway to the Bay.”

The name Edo spread to the village from the name of the small territorial feudal clan Edo, which in turn was part of the large feudal Taira clan. One of the heads of the Edo clan, Tara Shigenada, expanded his possessions to the south, erecting the very first fortified fort in this village at the confluence of the Sumida River into Tokyo Bay (then called the “inland sea”, and later Edo Bay) at the end of the 12th century .

The city received the name Tokyo (i.e. “Eastern Capital”) in 1868 after the Emperor of Japan moved to Edo from Kyoto (at that time, real power was returned to the imperial dynasty as a result of a successful coup, after centuries of rule by the military rulers of the shoguns).

The time since the founding of Edo has been characterized by a number of curious features in the development of the city, in particular regarding the composition of its population.

So let's talk about all this.

Old Edo.

Old Edo.

The international Christian magazine Awake (January 2008 issue) described the founding of Tokyo (then Edo) as follows in a piece on the history of the city from its Tokyo correspondent:

“On an August day in 1590, Ieyasu Tokugawa, who later became the founder of the shogun dynasty, i.e. Hereditary commanders-in-chief of the Japanese army, who had absolute power in the country and ruled in the name of the emperor, first arrived in Edo, a fishing village in eastern Japan.

According to Tokyo history books, Edo at that time consisted of several hundred miserable shacks, in which peasants and fishermen lived. Nearby were the ruins of a fortress built more than a hundred years earlier.

This unknown village would eventually become the capital of Japan, Tokyo - a thriving metropolis with more than 12 million inhabitants.

Picture of old Edo.

Picture of old Edo. The bearers of the palanquin cago.

Ill. from an old engraving from a book published in the 1990s-2000s. with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nipponia magazine.

How did this amazing transformation happen?

Due to feudal strife in the 15th and 16th centuries, Japan fell apart into many fragmented principalities. In the end, a feudal lord of peasant origin, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, managed to partially unify the country. In 1585 he became the emperor's regent. Ieyasu, mentioned at the beginning, first fought against the powerful Hideyoshi, but later took his side. Together they besieged and captured Odawara Castle, a stronghold of the influential Hojo clan. This allowed them to take control of Kanto, a region in eastern Japan (where the village of Edo, and now modern Tokyo, was also located).

Hideyoshi granted Ieyasu vast lands in the eight Kanto provinces, which had previously been owned mainly by the Hojo clan. So Ieyasu's possessions were shifted to the east. This appears to have been done deliberately to keep Ieyasu away from Kyoto, where the emperor, the formal head of Japan, lived. Nevertheless, Ieyasu did not mind and arrived in Edo, as mentioned at the beginning of the article. He set about transforming this modest village into his residence.

When Hideyoshi died, Ieyasu led the united forces of eastern Japan, entered the fight against the Western military group and in 1600 defeated it in one day. In 1603, Ieyasu was appointed shogun and became the de facto ruler of the country. This is how Edo became new administrative center Japan.

Ieyasu obliged the feudal lords to provide workers and materials for the construction of a huge castle A. At one time, up to 3,000 ships were involved in transporting huge granite blocks mined from rocks on the Izu Peninsula (100 kilometers south of Edo). After unloading the stones, about a hundred people transported them from the port to the construction site.

Edo Castle, unprecedented in scale in Japan, was completed 50 years later, under the third shogun of the Tokugawa clan, founded by Ieyasu. He became an impressive symbol of this irresistible dynasty.

Samurai, or warriors who served the shogun, settled around the castle. The shogun required that feudal lords maintain estates in Edo in addition to their family castles.

As, in turn, noted, regarding the issue of the founding of Tokyo, the magazine “Nipponia”, published with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (No. 25, dated June 15 2013 .), “not the least role in the emergence of the city was played by Edo Castle. (Future shogun) Tokugawa Ieyasu (life: 1542-1616, became shogun in 1603, overthrowing the previous dynasty of shoguns from the Toyotomi Hideyoshi family, whose vassal he was; Tokugawa Ieyasu remained the de facto ruler of Japan until his death in 1616. , although he formally renounced his position as shogun in favor of his son in 1605. Note. The castle was well known, it was built (on the ruins of the fortifications of Tara Sigenada) (transferred here) by the feudal lord Ota Dokan (lived: 1432-1486), and Ieyasu intended to use this castle as the headquarters of his shogunate in Edo. But when Ieyasu established his residence there, it became clear that the castle had become terribly dilapidated. Instead of stone walls, the defensive structures were covered with grass around the castle, and the house of the owner of the castle was little different from them. peasant house was designed for this reason. new plan to expand and strengthen the castle."

The magazine "Nipponia" in the same issue cited Some Interesting Statistical Facts Concerning Edo After Its Establishment as the Capital. The magazine indicated that Edo, after becoming the political center of Japan, grew, despite the fact that 70% of the city’s territory was occupied by military dwellings (dynamics: in 1644, military dwellings occupied 77.5%, dwellings of commoners - 9.8, temples and sanctuaries - 10.2 of the total territory; in 1865, military dwellings occupied 63.5%, commoners' dwellings - 17.8, temples and sanctuaries - 12.7). At the same time, the number of ordinary people was practically not inferior to the military class, but they lived in crowded conditions.

Interestingly, according to the same publication, there were many more men than women in Edo. The number of men and women became equal in Edo (Tokyo) only in the 19th century. Undoubtedly, this phenomenon was associated with the dominance of the military class in Edo. (In 1733 in Edo there were only 57 women per 100 men; in 1844 there were 90 women, and in 1864 there were 99).

Nipponia magazine wrote in this regard: “Many Edo residents were natives of other places in Japan. They were provincial samurai, whom the lords of the local daimyo fiefs sent to live near their residences in Edo, without family. Another large category of single men in Edo were young men who came to this city for the purpose of studying science or martial arts, as well as trade.”

The presence of a large number of single people in Edo also led to the emergence of specific habits: for example, there were many stalls in the city offering ready-made instant dishes (soba noodles, sushi and tempura). (Note that tempura, a dish of vegetables, fish and seafood of Portuguese origin, was brought to Japan around 1549. The founder of Edo-Tokyo, Tokugawa Ieyasu, also loved to eat tempura. Note website).

As the magazine “Nipponia” writes, already between 1733 and 1853. 1 million 300 people lived in Edo, while the population of London and Paris was then 700 thousand and 500 thousand inhabitants, respectively. Both now Tokyo, and then Edo, was one of largest cities world, and at times the largest.

Already around 1644, Edo's area was 43.9 km². At that time, it was larger than Rome, the largest city in Europe (14.6 km²), and much larger in area than London (9.2 km²), this Japanese publication indicated.

“Awake” develops this theme as follows: “After the founding of Tokyo, merchants and artisans began to flock to the city to provide for the needs of the samurai who made up the bulk of the population. IN In 1695 - approximately a hundred years after Ieyasu appeared in these places - the population of Edo reached a million! At that time it was the most Big city in the world .

Picture of old Edo.

Picture of old Edo. Boat ride and fireworks display on the Sumida River.

Ill. from an old engraving from a book published in the 1990s-2000s. with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nipponia magazine.

The power of the shogunate stabilized the situation in the country, and a period of peace lasted for more than 250 years. The civilian population (especially merchants) prospered and enjoyed greater independence. A distinctive culture developed.

Historical dramas kabuki, puppet theater bunraku and satirical monologues of rakugo gained popularity.

To enjoy the cool, hot summer evenings, people came to the banks of the Sumida River, on which Edo stood. Fireworks displays were held there, which are still popular today.

However, Edo remained unknown to the rest of the world. For more than 200 years, all contact with foreigners was prohibited in Japan. The exceptions - and even then with reservations - were the Dutch, Chinese and Koreans." Moreover, according to the Nipponia magazine, the majority of the Edo population 19th century was literate, and by the 19th century the military class was already almost entirely literate.

Nipponia Magazine talking about why Edo City ranked so high large area pointed out that “this was because the city was built according to a town plan that included moats with water spiraling out from the castle in a clockwise direction, taking advantage of the terrain's advantages such as rivers, valleys and hills. Given the fairly high level of development of construction technology at that time, there was little that could prevent the expansion of the city."

Also, the Nipponia magazine, in its issue dated June 15, 2003, paradoxically noted that “the history of urban planning in Edo and Tokyo is the history of the city’s advance on the sea; it is no coincidence that until 1868 Tokyo was known as Edo, which means “Gateway to the Bay.”

At the beginning of the 17th century, the tide approached the very foundations of Edo Castle, where the shogun lived. Year after year, the city of Edo grew, conquering more and more land from the bay. And today Tokyo Bay is being pushed back, developing new lands for the development of the city. At the epicenter of these events is Odaiba, a seaside city that has become a coastal urban center as a result of development. The Odaiba area got its name (which means "forts with guns") from six artificial islands, built in the mid-19th century and fortified with cannons to protect the interior of the bay and the city from foreign gunboats. Modern Odaiba was formed when the bay around these six islands was filled in."

The Edo Age came to an end when, according to the author of a publication in Awake magazine about the founding of Tokyo, an unexpected event occurred that radically changed the life of the city and the entire country. The magazine wrote:

“One day, something strange appeared on the horizon of Edo, emitting black clouds of smoke. The stunned fishermen thought that floating volcanoes were approaching them! Terrible rumors spread throughout Edo. A mass exodus began.

These were four American ships. On July 8, 1853, their commander, American Commodore Matthew Perry, ordered them to drop anchor in Edo Bay. Perry demanded that the Japanese government open trade with his country. Thanks to this visit, the Japanese were able to see how much their country lagged behind the rest of the world militarily and technically.

This set in motion a series of events that led to the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule. In 1868, Edo was renamed Tokyo, which means "eastern capital". This name reflects the city's location in relation to Kyoto. The emperor moved his residence from the Kyoto palace to Edo Castle, which he later turned into a new one.

Under Western influence, the new Japanese government set about renovating the country. There was a lot to catch up on. Some call this period a time of amazing transformation. In 1869, telegraph communication was established between Tokyo and Yokohama. Soon the two cities were also connected by railroad. Among the wooden buildings, brick buildings suddenly appeared. Banks, hotels, department stores, and restaurants appeared. The first universities opened. Dirt roads have been replaced by paved ones. Steamboats began to travel up and down the Sumida River.

Even people began to look different. Although the traditional kimono remained the most popular clothing, more and more Japanese began to try Western clothing.

For men, mustaches, top hats and canes became fashionable; women began to dress up in elegant dresses and learn to waltz.

Beer competed with traditional sake, and baseball became as popular as sumo wrestling, the national sport. Tokyo, like a giant sponge, absorbed and assimilated the latest cultural and political ideas...

Compared to many cities in the world, 400-year-old Tokyo is quite young. Although some areas retain the spirit of the past, by and large there is little in the city that reminds of those days. But if you look closely, you can see that its layout is inherited from ancient Edo.

A huge green oasis has been preserved in the very center. Where Edo Castle originally stood is today with surrounding areas. From it, like threads of a web, the main highways leading to the outskirts of the city diverge in all directions, much like in Edo times. The chaotic labyrinth of streets, many of which don’t even have names, reminds us of the past! Numbered blocks of varying sizes and shapes are a far cry from the straight lines of streets in many cities around the world.

But what has remained most in Tokyo is its spirit - a receptiveness to the new, especially foreign, and a resilience and determination that neither earthquakes, nor a prolonged economic recession, nor the difficulties of overpopulation can break. Come to Tokyo to feel its spirit, to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of this world-famous metropolis, which grew out of a small, unknown village,” invited the Tokyo correspondent of the international Christian magazine “Awake”.

This review of the founding of Tokyo was prepared by the site based on two publications: a note from the international Christian magazine “Awake” (Russian ed., January 2008 .) “How a fishing village turned into a metropolis” and a special report “From Old Edo to Modern Tokyo: 400 Years” from the magazine for an international audience “Nipponia” (“Japan”), published with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russian ed., No. 25, June 15 2013).