How Tokyo has developed over time
By Lauryn Hope-Blyth
Tokyo was originally a small fishing village called Edo.
In 1590, Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo his base. When he eventually became shogun in 1703, the once small fishing village became the center of his military government. During the Edo period, Edo grew to become one of the largest cities in the world, with a total population of over 1 million residents by the 18th century. Edo, which had by this time been renamed Tokyo, had effectively become the capital of Japan, despite the emperor still residing in the Imperial capital, Kyoto.
In 1869, Emperor Meiji moved to Tokyo. The former Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace, and with the city already being the cultural and political center, the city of Tokyo, as Japan's capital was established.
Tokyo suffered two major disasters in the 20th century. The earthquake of 1923 left 140,000 people dead or missing, and the other terrible tragedy was World War 2.
Central Tokyo, has been designed since around 1900 to be centered on major railway stations in a high-density fashion, so suburban railways were built relatively cheaply at street level and with their own right of way. Although train transport has been built all over Tokyo, the basic design of the city has not changed.
The bombings of Tokyo in 1944 and 1945 killed between 75,000 and 200,000 people and left majority of Tokyo destroyed. After the war has finished, Tokyo was rebuilt completely, with its 'debut' during the 1964 summer Olympics. In the 1970's the population rose to 11 million in the metropolitan area.
Tokyo's train network became one of the most busiest commuter rails in the world. During the day time, population rises to around 25 million as workers and students commute to complete their daily tasks.
In 1590, Tokugawa Ieyasu made Edo his base. When he eventually became shogun in 1703, the once small fishing village became the center of his military government. During the Edo period, Edo grew to become one of the largest cities in the world, with a total population of over 1 million residents by the 18th century. Edo, which had by this time been renamed Tokyo, had effectively become the capital of Japan, despite the emperor still residing in the Imperial capital, Kyoto.
In 1869, Emperor Meiji moved to Tokyo. The former Edo Castle became the Imperial Palace, and with the city already being the cultural and political center, the city of Tokyo, as Japan's capital was established.
Tokyo suffered two major disasters in the 20th century. The earthquake of 1923 left 140,000 people dead or missing, and the other terrible tragedy was World War 2.
Central Tokyo, has been designed since around 1900 to be centered on major railway stations in a high-density fashion, so suburban railways were built relatively cheaply at street level and with their own right of way. Although train transport has been built all over Tokyo, the basic design of the city has not changed.
The bombings of Tokyo in 1944 and 1945 killed between 75,000 and 200,000 people and left majority of Tokyo destroyed. After the war has finished, Tokyo was rebuilt completely, with its 'debut' during the 1964 summer Olympics. In the 1970's the population rose to 11 million in the metropolitan area.
Tokyo's train network became one of the most busiest commuter rails in the world. During the day time, population rises to around 25 million as workers and students commute to complete their daily tasks.
Tokyo has developed greatly over time. From a small, desolate fishing village to the worlds busiest metropolitan area, Tokyo has come a long way in terms of development. It's total population has even reached 32 million.
Tokyo's population will increase in the near future, where it will peak in the year 2020. Over the next 40 years, Tokyo's population will decline, being lowered by 20%.