It was only 150 years ago that Japan was in the Edo era. The Edo era begun in 1603 when Ieyasu Tokugawa became Shogun (war lord) and started governing to unite of all Japan. Eventually power shifted back to the Emperor around 1867-- the length of this Edo period was 265 years.
It was only 150 years ago that Japan was in the Edo era complete with Shogun, Bushi (warroirs) and people wearing Kimono, just like a scene from a movie. Tokyo today, formly called Edo, has been built in the last 70 years after the Edo era ended. The war era under the emperor began, then the emporer's lose in WWII and then the power was handed over to its citizens, which recovered from a hopeless post-war environment.
So what was it really like in the Edo era
here are a few important features:
1. Era of Stability
This was the longest, most stable and peaceful period of time in all of Japanese history. 15 rulers called Shogunate reigned during this time. There were some characteristics Shogun. For example, the fifth Shogun, Tsunayoshi "Dog shogun" forbid killing of any bugs and animals. Consequently, there were dogs everywhere in Edo. This infamous bad law was, of course, terminated by the next Shogun.
2. The Era of Bushi (warriors)
This was the time of a strict class system with Bushi at the top, then the farmers, the craftsmen and then the merchants. However, unlike the aristocrats in foreign countries, being at the top of the system was far from being rich. If you watch the movie Twilight Samurai, you will know how poor the Bushi really were. On the other hand, there were also super rich citizens in the lower merchant class. Plutocracies, which are called Zaibatsu in Japanese, were formed in this era. For example, the conglomerate Mitsui was formed around this time.
3. Era of Global Isolation (=Sakoku )
Japanese citizens traveling abroad was forbidden and Japanese citizens living abroad and then coming back were not allowed back into Japan. If they were found and known to be abroad they were killed. Also, trading was limited to the Nagasaki port located at the Western end of Japan and permitted only with the Netherlands and China. Things were this way for about 270 years until Commodore Matthew Perry from America arrived in Shimoda. The appearance of Perry was just like a scene form the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind for Japanese.
4. Unique Japanese Culture
This isolation was not so bleak as most people think. Actually it was the very reason why Japan's unique culture blossomed. Kabuki, Rakugo, Haiku, Ukiyoe, Misemonogoya(a sort of "surprise" show), Karakuri Ningyo all were developed in the Edo era and they still are the most famous aspects of Japanese culture.
5. The Metropolis of Tokyo
The unique fresh water system that could surport London and Paris and a population of over one million at a time history equivalen to the medieval times in Europe surely indicate that Tokyo was a metropolis.
Let's find Edo in Tokyo!
Like this title says, I'd like to briefly introduce you to the heritage of Edo that still can be found in Tokyo.
The geographic legacy of names
The geographic names in modern Tokyo originated in the Edo era. So if you learn the origin of a particular geographic name you can also study the history of Edo era at the same time. For example
Hanzo Mon (Hanzo=Name, Mon=Gate)
Origin: A famous Ninja called Hanzo Hattori's gang was guarding this gate.
Sangen Chaya (Sangen=Three, Chaya=Teahouse)
Origin: There were three famous teahouses at the beginning of Edo era.
Ocha No Mizu (Ocha=tea, No=of, Mizu=Water)
Origin: The temple called Korinji, the district is famous for water which was offered to the Shogun family.
Shin Jyuku (Shin=New, Jyuku=Inn)
Origin: Compared to the older place, Takaido, this district was created as a new place to stay.
Yaesu (Yaesu=Jan Joosten van Lodensteyn)
Origin: The first Shogun Ieyasu had a Dutch foreign affairs advisor whose name was Jan Joosten
was read Yan Yosuten.
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