Tokyo

Capital of Japan, on Honshu island; population (2000 est) 8,130,000. It is Japan's main cultural, commercial, financial and industrial centre (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 in 1868. By the end of the 18th century, Yedo, with 1 million people, was the largest city in the world. An earthquake in 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 on 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 Disneyland, and the National Athletic Stadium. The Sumida River delta separates the city from its suburb of Honjo. The city is the dominant centre of higher education in Japan, containing one-third of the country's universities, including Tokyo University (1877).