Effortlessly blending the old and the new, Tokyo is a city that
defies definition. Cutting edge technology sits alongside ancient
temples, flashing neon lights, and shining skyscrapers towering
above stunning Shinto shrines. Tokyo is one of the world's leading
economic centres, and with its population of almost 13 million
people, is the most populous city on the planet. Tokyo only became
Japan's capital in 1868. Before then it was a small settlement
known as Edo, but with the restoration of Imperial rule, the city
became the showpiece of a rapidly modernising country.
In the first half of the 20th century, Tokyo suffered two major
setbacks. The catastrophic Kanto Earthquake of 1923 - and the
resulting fires - claimed the lives of 140,000 people, made almost
2 million homeless and virtually levelled the city. Furthermore, it
again suffered major destruction during the Second World War after
being bombed by US forces. But the city rose from the ashes of all
of this to become a major economic force, and though much of Tokyo
consists of relatively new buildings, it still retains a selection
of wonderful historic structures.