The capital of Japan is Tokyo (東京).
🏙️ What is Tokyo?
- Tokyo is the political, economic, and cultural center of Japan.
- It is one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world.
- Home to over 37 million people in the greater metropolitan area — making it the most populous urban area globally.
🗾 Why is Tokyo the capital?
- Historical background:
- Japan's original capital was Kyoto, the imperial seat for over 1,000 years.
- In 1868, during the Meiji Restoration, the emperor moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was then renamed Tokyo, meaning “Eastern Capital.”
- This marked the beginning of modern Japan, and Tokyo has been the capital ever since.
🏛️ Role of Tokyo as the capital
- Government Center: Houses the National Diet (Japan's parliament), Prime Minister's office, and most government ministries.
- Emperor’s Residence: The Imperial Palace is located in central Tokyo.
- Business & Finance Hub: Tokyo is home to the Tokyo Stock Exchange and headquarters of many multinational corporations.
- Cultural Capital: Major center for Japanese art, fashion, cuisine, media, and pop culture (anime, manga, etc.).
🧠 Fun Facts
- Tokyo has no legal designation as a "city" — it's technically a metropolitan prefecture that combines city and prefecture functions.
- Hosted the Olympic Games twice: in 1964 and 2021 (delayed from 2020).
- Despite earthquakes and bombings in WWII, Tokyo rebuilt rapidly and became a global leader in tech and urban development.
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