Today the capital of Japan is one of the largest and most beautiful cities in the country, located in the eastern part of the mainland. The history of Tokyo is a constant change of eras associated with certain Japanese rulers or emperors. Each of them played a role in the life of the city, which has gone from a small fishing village to a technologically advanced metropolis.
The following periods in Tokyo history are briefly distinguished:
- early life of a fishing village;
- from 1603 - the Edo period, the construction of the fort;
- since 1868 - the Meiji era, Tokyo as the "Eastern Capital";
- 1912–1926 - Taisho era, further flourishing of the city;
- until 1989 - the Showa era (ambiguous period, time of ups and downs);
- now - the Heisei era.
Stages of a long journey
Before the beginning of the Edo period, the history of Tokyo was similar to the stories of thousands of villages along the banks of water bodies. Quiet, calm life, fishing, processing and selling is the main pastime of local residents.
In the XII century, a new life of the settlement begins - the Edo period, associated with the coming to power of Tokugawa Ieyasu. One of the local warriors builds a fort on the territory of a fishing village, until 1869 it bears the name of Edo, after - Tokyo. In 1457, the construction of a castle with the same name began in these places, then the construction of city blocks. By 1721, Edo became the world record holder, the number of its inhabitants exceeded 1 million.
A new period begins in the life of Tokyo - the Meiji era, the city castle becomes the Imperial Palace, and the city itself takes on the special status of the "Eastern capital" of the state.
The same period is characterized by the intensification of ties with the West, the strong influence of the European economy and culture. Scientific and technological progress contributes to the development of Tokyo's infrastructure, a telegraph appears, a railway, telephones began to be installed, even national clothes began to be replaced by European dresses.
In 1912, the Taisho era began, the city continues to develop, the number of educational institutions expanded, and girls were allowed to study. The tragedy took place in 1923, as a result of a strong earthquake, the city was damaged, the city quarters were significantly destroyed.
The twentieth century brought many events of a different plan, the beginning of the century is characterized by depressive moods, power upheavals. The Second World War brought the bombing of the city, which destroyed almost all the wooden buildings in the city. In the second half of the 20th century, a new rise in the Tokyo economy began.
