From Samurai To Skyscrapers:The History Of Tokyo

Long before it was the world’s largest metropolis, Tokyo was a tiny fishing village named Edo.

- Christine Graf

Archaeological evidence indicates that man has lived there for more than 10,000 years, but it wasn’t until the 15th century that Edo became an important shipping and trading center. Canals and waterways were dug to channel fresh water into the city, and estuaries and marshes were filled with dirt to create livable and farmable land. Japan’s powerful warrior class migrated to Edo, and it became home to the shogun, the country’s military dictator. Although the emperor was Japan’s leader, the shogun held the real power during this time. Edo became Japan’s capital in 1603, and shoguns from the Tokugawa family ruled Japan for the next 250 years. Although it was a time of peace and prosperity, it was also a time of tragedy. A 1657 fire destroyed 60 percent of the city and killed 100,000 people. Edo was rebuilt and grew to become the world’s largest city in 1721, with a population of one million.

During Tokugawa rule, a policy of national isolation was instituted to reduce foreign influence and preserve the family’s power. Foreigners were expelled, Christianity was outlawed, and foreign trade was severely restricted. As a result, Edo became a sustainable society in which everything was repaired or recycled. Craftsmen repaired broken pots and glued broken ceramics with starch extracted from rice. Even night soil—human waste that was removed from outhouses—was recycled into fertilizer.