Edo

Edo (Japanese: 江戸, lit. 'bay-entrance" or "estuary'), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo.

Under the Tokugawa shogunate, Edo developed into a major early-modern urban centre with a population that is believed to have exceeded 1 million by the early 18th century — making it, by many estimates, the largest city in the world at the time.

Edo’s population and urban footprint expanded significantly due to deliberate policies, including land reclamation around Edo Bay, planned street layouts, large samurai residential areas, and an extensive system of waterways supporting transportation and commerce. The city was home to samurai officials, townspeople (chōnin), and artisans, and served as a centre of economic activity, urban cultural practices, and administrative organization during the Tokugawa era.

Following the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1868, the city formerly known as Edo was renamed Tōkyō ("Eastern Capital"), and the emperor’s residence was moved there from Kyoto, establishing Tokyo as the capital of Japan. The development of Edo during the Tokugawa period (1603‑1868) influenced the later growth and urban character of Tokyo after the Meiji Restoration.