Description

Book Synopsis
Presents the modern capital of Japan from the first forest clearances on the vast Kanto plain, through the wars and intrigues of the samurai era, up to the preparations for the 2020 Olympics. Tokyo (the `Eastern Capital') has only enjoyed that name and status for 150 years. Before then it was the site of Edojuku (`Estuary Camp'), a medieval outpost designed to keep watch over rich farmlands. Whereas the imperial court ruled Japan from the sleepy city of Kyoto the land-owners of the Kanto plain held the true wealth and power, which they eventually asserted in a series of bloody civil wars. As `Edo' in the early modern period, the Tokyo region became the administrative centre of Japan's Shogun overlords and the site of a vibrant, vivid urban culture of theatres, taverns and brothels. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, it became Japan's true capital, home to the emperors, seat of government and site of rapid urban growth.

An Armchair Traveller's History of Tokyo

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    A Hardback by Jonathan Clements

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      Book details

      Publisher Haus Publishing
      Published 23 November 2018
      ISBN-13 9781909961586
      978-1909961586
      ISBN-10 1909961582
      Also in:
      Travel writing

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Presents the modern capital of Japan from the first forest clearances on the vast Kanto plain, through the wars and intrigues of the samurai era, up to the preparations for the 2020 Olympics. Tokyo (the `Eastern Capital') has only enjoyed that name and status for 150 years. Before then it was the site of Edojuku (`Estuary Camp'), a medieval outpost designed to keep watch over rich farmlands. Whereas the imperial court ruled Japan from the sleepy city of Kyoto the land-owners of the Kanto plain held the true wealth and power, which they eventually asserted in a series of bloody civil wars. As `Edo' in the early modern period, the Tokyo region became the administrative centre of Japan's Shogun overlords and the site of a vibrant, vivid urban culture of theatres, taverns and brothels. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, it became Japan's true capital, home to the emperors, seat of government and site of rapid urban growth.

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