Tokyo Before Tokyo (Paperback)

Timon Screech

ISBN 10: 178914955X / ISBN 13: 9781789149555

Published by Reaktion Books, London, 2024

About this Item

Paperback. Tokyo today is one of the world's mega-cities, and the centre of a scintillating, hyper-modern culture but not everyone is aware of its past. Founded in 1590 as the seat of the warlord Tokugawa family, Tokyo, then called 'Edo', was the locus of Japanese trade, economics and urban civilisation until 1868, when it mutated into Tokyo and became Japan's modern capital. This beautifully illustrated book presents important sites and features from the rich history of Edo, drawn from contemporary sources such as diaries, guidebooks and woodblock prints. These include the huge bridge on which the city was centred, the vast castle of the shogun, sumptuous Buddhist temples, bars, kabuki theatres and the Yoshiwara, Edo's famous red-light district.'Screech is a highly knowledgeable guide to Ieyasu's Edo. His narrative is generously illustrated.Today, very little of Tokyo's past remains standing, but the original footprint is still there. WithTokyo Before Tokyo, Screech shows us where to look.' Japan Times A rich and original history of Edo, the shogun's city that became modern Tokyo. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781789149555

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Tokyo Before Tokyo (Paperback)
• Publisher: Reaktion Books, London
• Publication Date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 178914955X
• ISBN 13: 9781789149555
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

A rich and original history of Edo, the shogun’s city that became modern Tokyo.

Tokyo today is one of the world’s mega-cities and the center of a scintillating, hyper-modern culture—but not everyone is aware of its past. Founded in 1590 as the seat of the warlord Tokugawa family, Tokyo, then called Edo, was the locus of Japanese trade, economics, and urban civilization until 1868, when it mutated into Tokyo and became Japan’s modern capital. This beautifully illustrated book presents important sites and features from the rich history of Edo, taken from contemporary sources such as diaries, guidebooks, and woodblock prints. These include the huge bridge on which the city was centered; the vast castle of the Shogun; sumptuous Buddhist temples, bars, kabuki theaters, and Yoshiwara—the famous red-light district.

About the Author

Timon Screech is professor of the history of art at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He is the author of many books.