Why is Tokyo So Big? | How Tokyo, Japan Became The World's Biggest City
In the 1500s, Tokyo was just a small, insignificant fishing village. Today in 2023, Tokyo, Japan, has a population of 37 million. So how did Tokyo get this big?
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The Origins of Tokyo
Early History (Before 1600s)
On the eastern side of Japan, a small village was founded on the sea sometime in the 1300s. Multiple villages had been founded in the area over thousands of years. This one, however, would become the predecessor of modern-day Tokyo.
The village was called Edo after the governor of the region at the time, Edo Shigenaga. The small fishing village quickly grew because of its river location and ocean access. Because of this, Edo Shigenaga established the village as his capital city and built a castle to protect it.
The New Capital (1600s-1800s)
Eventually, the small town caught the attention of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Japan had been going through decades of civil war, and Tokugawa Ieyasu had unified Japan.
For most of this period, Japan was divided up into many warring states or provinces, but in the final stages they had united, and Japan was now divided by its western and eastern provinces. Tokugawa Ieyasu led the eastern provinces against the west and finally unified all of Japan. He was declared shogun (military leader) of Japan by the emperor.
The capital city at the time was Kyoto, which was located in the west of Japan, where the people who fought against Tokugawa Ieyasu were. So, he effectively moved the capital to Edo, closer to his allies in the east, in 1603. For the next 200 years, this period in Japanese history was known as the Tokugawa period of Japan but was also known as the Edo period.
During the Edo Period, illustrated storybooks called Kibyoshi, or "yellow covers" began to be produced. These Kibyoshi were the predecessor of modern manga and anime. Manga and anime would still have another 100 years to go before they would become what they are today…
When Tokugawa Ieyasu largely made Edo the new capital, it brought wealth to the city, and people wanted goods and services. This led to merchants and craftsmen doing well in the new capital. Ieyasu also absorbed some western ideas and was assisted by William Adams, the first and only foreign samurai.
Tokugawa Ieyasu’s decision to largely move the capital lifted the small fishing town to prominence in a newly united Japan.
Japan Opens Up (1800s-1850s)
However, under the Tokugawa dynasty, Japan began to isolate itself from Europe. During this time, Europeans were exploring the world, trying to find a faster way to Asia so they could trade with them. That’s how America was discovered by Columbus.
But on the other side of the world, Japan was refusing to trade with Europeans, fearing that western culture and politics would interfere and ruin Japan.
That all changed when American Commodore Perry opened up Japan by sailing into Edo Bay with an American fleet in 1853 and demanding trade. He returned the next year with a larger fleet and coerced the Japanese into signing the Treaty of Kanagawa, which opened Japan up to trade with the United States and led to Japan becoming westernized.
Violence and Progress (1850s-1930s)
This period saw fast changes in Japan, but these changes also brought tension. Despite this, the first Japanese university was founded in 1858. However, Japan was still divided on whether it wanted to open up to the west and, for the most part, "do away with tradition." Those who believed in keeping foreigners out sided with the shogun, and those who wanted to westernize sided with the emperor.
The assassination of a prominent statesman who believed in opening things up further polarized Japan. The last shogun of Japan resigned and turned power over to the emperor a year later, in 1867. However, the tensions boiled over into a war the following year, and eventually, the emperor came out on top and changed Japan and Edo forever.
The Meiji Restoration
For hundreds of years, the shogun (military leader) was considered the real leader of Japan instead of the emperor. That changed soon after Commodore Perry opened up Japan. With new weapons and military assistance from the west, the emperor (Emperor Meiji) was able to raise his own army and beat the outdated samurai army.
Emperor Meiji began to quickly modernize Japan. The thing is, the government and power of Japan were centered in Edo, not the emperor’s city of Kyoto. So, the emperor officially moved the capital and his family to Edo. The city of Edo was then given a new name, Tokyo, which means "the eastern capital."
During the Meiji Period, Tokyo began to modernize faster. New railroads were built during this time too, starting what would be a long history with Japan and trains. Also during this time, Japan became more democratic under a new Westernized government. Removing the old system of feudalism brought about a new boom but also a huge wave of political violence.
The Violence Continues
The modernization of Japan resulted in Japan wanting to conquer its less modernized neighbors. Japan started by taking over Korea. This resulted in a war with Russia, which they shockingly won. Many people were shocked that an Asian country beat a European one.
Japan continued to expand, but the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 destroyed huge parts of Tokyo. Not only did a giant earthquake destroy the city, but the fires that resulted spread all over the city, destroying and killing more.
This had a big impact on the new, young anime industry. The fires destroyed many of the first anime films, but anime was able to recover and went on to become a worldwide phenomenon…
The 1920s brought about better lives for the people of Tokyo. Like most of the world, the decade after the First World War brought about a time of extravagant happiness and positive change. Women began to go to school more, and the fine arts began to thrive.
Japan Goes To War (1930s-1940s)
While Japan furthered its expansion in Asia, Tokyo began to grow even more. A new railroad that connected Tokyo with Osaka made it faster to travel between the two cities. An airport and a new port were opened in Tokyo, and in 1935 Tokyo’s population reached the same level as New York and London.
However, this time there were also many assassination attempts on politicians, and the tensions only worsened. One time, a thousand troops took over key government buildings and attempted to overthrow the government.
The tensions only worsened as World War II broke out. The surprise Doolittle Raid destroyed parts of Tokyo early in the war. It was also during World War II that anime artists would be employed by the government to create propaganda…
Eventually, America was able to bomb Tokyo more consistently and more heavily. In total, Tokyo was bombed 102 times. Then came the two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Japan surrendered on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The population of Tokyo had fallen to around 3.5 million, about half of what it had been in 1940. However, with the surrender came an American occupation that brought in a whole new Tokyo.
Tokyo Today (1950-Present)
After Japan surrendered, the Americans began their occupation. They helped rebuild Japan, and soon enough, Tokyo became a center of economic activity. This was in large part due to the outbreak of the Korean War.
Japan would take advantage of technological innovation, and Japan would start producing washing machines, fridges, and TVs. This improved Japan’s economy by providing new jobs, and the lives of everyday Tokyo residents began to change.
Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964 and finally introduced the Shinkansen ("Bullet Train"), something Japan has become famous for having. Also during this time, Tokyo’s population reached 10 million.
It was also during the 1960s, that anime would go international. A man named Osamu Tezuka created Japan's first animated TV show. At the time it was just a small show, but it would go on to spread anime across the world, and that show was Astro Boy…
After an economic dip in the 1970s, Japan began to grow economically in the 1980s. Tokyo became a center of technology, fashion, culture, and safety. However, housing prices began to significantly rise in 1986.
However, Japan’s economy exploded (in a bad way) in the 1990s. Tokyo, however, was able to overcome the crisis and was soon on its way to continue growing. And it continued to release iconic animes like One Piece and Kiki's Delivery Service, which were able to save them. Tokyo reached 12 million in 2001 and 13 million only 9 years later, in 2010.
4 Big Reasons Tokyo is So Big
So now you know the history of how Tokyo went from a small fishing village to the capital of Japan, but why exactly is the city the largest in the world? Why do so many people live in Tokyo? Here's four reasons Tokyo is the world's largest city...
1. Transportation
Japan is famous for its high-speed bullet trains, and they are a leading reason why Tokyo has so many inhabitants. High-speed trains are able to bring people in easily from the country and areas around Tokyo. In addition to this, trains are able to transport people around Tokyo even if there is heavy traffic.
2. Industrialization
The industrialization of Japan in the late 1800s drew large numbers of people from the country because of the new job opportunities it brought. Industrialization also caused a big boom in Japan’s economy, which improved living conditions and resulted in people being able to have more children.
3. Education
Many of Japan’s higher education schools are based in Tokyo. This leads many Japanese students to move to Tokyo to pursue a college degree.
A major part of Tokyo’s growth has actually come from women. In 1970, only 13% of women were pursuing higher education, while 49% of women do so today. So, with more women going to college, Tokyo has become a home for many more college students.
4. Centralization
The biggest reason for Tokyo’s massive population is centralization. The main reason Emperor Meiji didn’t move the capital back from Edo was that the government was firmly established there. Today, the government is highly centered in Tokyo, along with Japan’s big economy. Many of Japan’s jobs are in Tokyo because of this.
Plenty of young adults have moved to Tokyo, attracted by its many centers of entertainment, education, and work. It also helps that Tokyo is a very safe city with an effective police department, so many people are comfortable living in the busy city.
Why is Tokyo So Big?
So why is Tokyo so big? While there’s many reasons for Tokyo’s growth, a large part is unfortunately due to how centralized Japan is. A crucial amount of Japan’s government, economy, and education are based in Tokyo, resulting in more people needing to move there to pursue politics, a successful career, or get a college degree.
Tokyo has progressed significantly in the last 500 years. It’s gone from a tiny fishing village to the capital of a nation, to being destroyed in a war, and finally becoming a center of technology and culture.
Interested more in Japan? Here's our stories on the origin of anime...
FAQs
What's The Population of Tokyo?
Tokyo, Japan is currently the biggest city in the world by population. As of 2023, Tokyo has a population of 37 million people. You can find out how Tokyo got so big by reading the rest of this story post by Our Mammoth World...
When Did Tokyo Become The Capital of Japan?
Tokyo is currently the capital of Japan and has been since Tokugawa Ieyasu essentially moved it from Kyoto to Edo (present-day Tokyo) in 1603. He did this to consolidate his power after he became the leader of Japan when he became shogun. However, it became the sole capital of Japan when Emperor Meiji officially moved the government and the imperial family there during the Meiji Restoration.
When Did Tokyo Change Its Name From Edo?
What's now called Tokyo was once a small fishing village named Edo after a governor who had been in charge of the region. The capital of Japan was essentially moved there by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 to consolidate his power as the new shogun of Japan. However, Edo didn't officially change its name until Emperor Meiji moved the capital from Kyoto to Edo once and for all during the Meiji Restoration. It was after this that Edo was changed to Tokyo which means "eastern capital."
Where and When Did Japan Surrender During World War II?
After the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan announced their surrender. However, Japan and the US didn't make the surrender official until September 2, 1945, when representatives of Japan boarded the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay to sign the terms of surrender. You can learn more about how Tokyo became the biggest city in the world by reading the rest of this story post by Our Mammoth World...
When Was The Bullet Train Created?
The world's first bullet train (known in Japan as the Shinkansen) was introduced by Japan in 1964 during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. This was partially a result of the technology boom Japan experienced after the end of the American occupation and the rebuilding period that followed their surrender in World War II. Ever since then, Japan has become world-renowned for its high-speed bullet trains and technological expertise. Find out more about how Tokyo became the world's biggest city by reading the rest of this story post by Our Mammoth World...
