The capital and largest city of Japan; the economic and cultural center of Japan; Also called: Tokio, Yeddo, Yedo, Edo, Japanese capital, capital of Japan.
Capital of Japan, on Honshu Island; metropolitan area over 12 million. The Sumida River delta separates the city from its suburb of Honjo. It is Japan’s main cultural and industrial center (engineering, chemicals, textiles, electrical goods). Founded in the 16th century as Yedo (or Edo), it was renamed when the emperor moved his court here from Kyoto 1868. An earthquake 1923 killed 58,000 people and destroyed much of the city, which was again severely damaged by Allied bombing in World War II when 60% of Tokyo’s housing was destroyed; US firebomb raids of 1945 were particularly destructive with over 100,000 people killed in just one night of bombing 9 March. The subsequent rebuilding has made it into one of the world’s most modern cities.
Features include the Imperial Palace, National Diet (parliament), Asakusa Kannon Temple (7th century, rebuilt after World War II), National Theatre, National Museum and other art collections, Tokyo University 1877, Tokyo Disneyland, and the National Athletic Stadium.