Tokyo, 東京, Tōkyō, “Eastern Capital”, Japan Japanese: [toːkjoː] ( listen), English /ˈtoʊki.oʊ/), officially Tokyo Metropolis (東京都 Tōkyō-to), is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan, and is both the capital and largest city of Japan. The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world.[7] It is the seat of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese government. Tokyo is in the Kantō region on the southeastern side of the main island Honshu and includes the Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands. Formerly known as Edo, it has been the de facto seat of government since 1603 when Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu made the city his headquarters. It officially became the capital after Emperor Meiji moved his seat to the city from the old capital of Kyoto in 1868; at that time Edo was renamed Tokyo. Tokyo Metropolis was formed in 1943 from the merger of the former Tokyo Prefecture (東京府 Tōkyō-fu) and the city of Tokyo (東京市 Tōkyō-shi). Tokyo is often referred to and thought of as a city, but is officially known and governed as a “metropolitan …read more
Tag Archives: Japanese Culture
History of Sendai, 仙台市, Japan
History of Sendai, 仙台市, Sendai-shi is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and the largest city in the Tōhoku region, and the second largest city north of Tokyo, Japan. Edo period Although the Sendai area was inhabited as early as 20,000 years ago, the history of Sendai as a city begins from 1600, when the daimyo Date Masamune relocated to Sendai. Masamune was not happy with his previous stronghold, Iwadeyama. Iwadeyama was located to the north of his territories and was also difficult to access from Edo (modern-day Tokyo). Sendai was an ideal location, being in the centre of Masamune’s newly defined territories, upon a major road from Edo, and near the sea. Tokugawa Ieyasu gave Masamune permission to build a new castle in Aoba-yama (Mount Aoba), Sendai after the Battle of Sekigahara. The previous ruler of the Sendai area had used a castle located on Aobayama. At this time Sendai was written as 千代 (which literally means “a thousand generations”), because a temple with a thousand Buddha statues (千体 sentai) used to be located in Aobayama. Masamune changed …read more
Musashi establishes a "no-nons...
“It is important for the warrior to constantly meditate upon these things: 1. Think honestly within yourself in your dealings with all men. 2. Constant training is the only way to learn strategy. 3. Become familiar with every art you come across. 4. Understand the way of other disciplines. 5. Know the difference between right and wrong in the matters of men. 6. Strive for inner judgment and an understanding of everything. 7. See that which cannot be seen. 8. Overlook nothing, regardless of insignificance. 9. Do not waste your time idling or thinking after you have set your goals.” Miyamoto Musashi (1584 – 1645) “When you take up a sword, you must feel intent on cutting up the enemy. As you cut an enemy you must not change your grip, and your hands must not cower.” Extract from The Book of Five Rings, Miyamoto Musashi (1584 – 1645) The Book of Five Rings (五輪書 Go Rin No Sho) is a text on kenjutsu and the martial arts in general, written by the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi circa 1645. There have …read more
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Irashaimase
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