When Was Tokyo Renamed?

The thriving metropolis city of Tokyo is one of Japan’s biggest traveling destinations. There is much culture to absorb and so many amazing gorgeous sites to see.

But did you know that this proud city used to be known as Edo? Well, you do now! Before Tokyo got the name we know it by today it used to be called Edo.

It was not until 1868 that Edo was renamed Tokyo. In this article we are going to talk about when Tokyo was renamed.

But on top of that we are going to cover many other fascinating facts about this amazing city. So, without further ado, let us dive right in and get started!

People Have Lived On This Spot For More Than 12,000 Years

The first people to live on the spot that Tokyo was built on built their village beside the Sumidagawa or Sumida River. The fact that this area had a bunch of marshland made it perfect for the people living there.

This is because the soil was very rich which meant that there were a lot of different plants and animals that could thrive there. As time went on these people built more permanent houses.

They even built rice farms and houses. The rice farming that they did here was wet farming. This technique operates when fields are flooded at the time of harvest.

The wet farming method was brought to Japan from Korea. This small exchange of farming techniques just goes to show the amazing exchange of culture that occurred between these countries.

Edo Became The Center Of A Military Power

Between the years of 1467 and 1477 Japan’s feudal powers became involved in the Onin War. Despite the fact that this civil war ended in 1477 it still brought about the warring states period.

This feud lasted over two centuries. During these two centuries the feudal lords started trying to rise to power. In the year 1603 an emperor named Go-Yozei gave a man named Tokugawa the title of shogun.

This made him the de facto leader of Japan. At the time of the shogunate the Emperor was like a spiritual leader of the country and they appointed a shogun who helped them rule the country.

On top of having the title of shogun, Tokugawa was given the rights to the land which Edo was built on. This made this city a secondary capital, with Kyoto being the home of the emperor and first capital of the country.

It was during this time period that is now known as the Edo period of Japan.

The Era’s First Modern Fire Brigades Of Japan Started In Edo

Edo only grew in population during the eighteenth century. By the time 1721 rolled around it was one of the largest metropolises in the world and with more than one million inhabitants.

But even a booming city will have its troubles. The vast majority of houses and buildings were made of wood. As we all know, wood is highly flammable and because of that, there were many accidental fires in homes and public buildings.

In the mid 1600s a fire known as the Fire of Meireki destroyed about seventy percent of Edo. It is thought that this fire began as the result of a priest burning a cursed kimono.

The devastation that this fire wrought prompted the country’s leaders to expand the fire brigade, or the Hikeshi.

Despite the hikeshi having been around more than two decades before the Meireki Fire. This tragedy led to more money and people to be pumped into the proto-fire brigade.

In 1868 Edo Was Renamed Tokyo

After being ruled under the Tokugawa Shogunate for over two centuries the last shogun resigned. This event marked the end of feudal rule in Japan. A new military leader had not been appointed by the Emperor Meiji.

Instead of appointing a new leader he simply moved his residence to Edo. When he arrived in this amazing city back in 1868 the city was renamed Tokyo. This name means East Capital.

World War II Brought About The Era Of Tech For Tokyo

Tokyo was relatively untouched by the atomic bombs that America dropped on in 1945. The capital was still feeling the effects of the war.

But, in 1946 a man named Masaru Ibuka started up a company that we have all come to know and love. Sony. Sony started to help Tokyo by developing a tape recording machine which could be used in people’s homes and by the government.

Even though much of Sony’s older technology has become redundant, the boom on money Sony brought about a new age of tech for Tokyo.

Japan’s Capital Becomes An Imaginative Metropolis

In modern times, Tokyo has become the perfect combination of old-world-charm and amazing futuristic technology. Millions of travelers make the trip to Japan each year to enjoy the culture, and technology.

Japan has even been named the best place to visit in the world. Its history is rich and there is so much to enjoy about this country so if you have the chance you should certainly make the trip to Japan. You won’t regret it!

Final Thoughts

We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about this amazing country. Edo had its name changed to Tokyo in 1868 because the last shogunate resigned, and the Emperor Meiji made his new residence in Edo.

When he arrived the city was renamed and became the city we all know and love today. We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and that we have inspired you to visit Tokyo or even just read more about this amazing city.

You will not regret checking out this amazing city.it is full of old-world tradition and rich in culture while still being a leader in technology. It is the best of both worlds.