Konnichiwa students!
Did you find that the capital of Japan is Tokyo, just like the prefecture name. However,the correct name of the prefecture is "Metropolitan Prefecture of Tokyo", and it includes smaller cities called "wards" that are under the administration of the prefecture. Tokyo is not only the capital and seat of government, but is also home to the Imperial family, and is where the the Imperial Palace is located. But as I mentioned the other day, it hasn't always been so.
Once named Edo, it was a small and simple village whose inhabitants caught fish for their livelihood. In the year 1457, Edo began to change. A samurai, Ota Dokan, a warrior-poet, built Edo castle,(a current picture of which is above). In 1590, the great military general, Tokugawa Ieyasu, made Edo his military headquarters when he became Shogun, or military high commander of Japan, in 1603. Then, because of its importance in the governing of Japan, the Emperor moved to Edo; Edo castle became the Imperial Palace.
Throughout the years the population grew, and it became Japan's political and cultural center. So it remains today.
Over 12 million people live in the Metropolitan Prefecture of Tokyo where I will be spending the first five days of my visit to Japan. I'm very excited because I will be staying in the New Otani Hotel which now owns the 10 acre garden that once belonged to Edo Castle. I can't wait to see it! In just a few days (Oct. 1) Tokyo will celebrate its anniversary in memory of Ota Dokan. The following is a poem written by him that describes the castle that he built and mentions a famous landmark of Japan that I have already noted in a previous blog.
.The abode of mine
Adjoins a pine grove
Sitting on the blue sea
And from its humble eaves
Commands a view of soaring Fuji
