Everything Everywhere Daily

Tokyo

Dec 30, 2024

Tokyo is a remarkable tale of transformation. Once a humble fishing village, it blossomed into the world's largest city with over 37 million residents. The city has faced destruction, notably during wars and earthquakes, yet its resilience shines through. The establishment of pivotal landmarks like Edo Castle and the impact of the Meiji Restoration were crucial in shaping its identity. With advanced infrastructure and a booming economy, Tokyo stands as a global center for technology, culture, and finance today.

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Quick takeaways

Tokyo evolved from a small fishing village named Edo into the world's largest city due to strategic political and economic developments.

Despite facing catastrophic disasters, Tokyo's resilient urban planning and infrastructure improvements have shaped it into a global cultural and technological hub.

Deep dives

Tokyo's Unique Historical Context

Tokyo is distinctively different from many major global cities due to its relatively recent historical significance. Unlike cities such as Kyoto or Nara that have rich ancient histories, Tokyo, originally a small fishing village named Edo, gained prominence when Tokugawa Ieyasu established it as his power base in the late 16th century. This strategic shift led to Edo becoming the de facto capital of Japan, allowing it to transform from an unremarkable settlement into one of the largest cities in the world. Factors contributing to Tokyo's rapid growth included its advantageous location along trade routes and its gradual development into a political and cultural center under the Tokugawa shogunate.

Intro

2min

The Unique Historical Journey of Tokyo

2min

From Fishing Village to Metropolis: The Transformation of Edo to Tokyo

5min

Tokyo: Rise, Fall, and Resurgence

5min

Tokyo's Transformation: From Fishing Village to Metropolis

2min

Tokyo, Japan, is currently the largest city in the world, with a total metropolitan population of over 37 million people.

However, it wasn’t always the case.

In fact, unlike many great cities of the world, Tokyo’s roots do not go back to ancient times. Its importance as a city is relatively recent, historically speaking.

During the war, it was almost completely destroyed yet has come back to be a major center of technology, culture, and finance.

Learn more about Tokyo and how it became the most populous city in the world on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.

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