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|   History of the RelationshipCurrent InitiativesPast Activities | |
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Tokyo, Japan’s capital city since 1868, is the largest metropolitan area in the world with 26 million inhabitants. Located at the head of Tokyo bay on the largest of the islands of the Japanese archipelago, Tokyo is Japan’s financial, industrial, commercial, educational, and cultural center.
Tokyo’s economy is one of the largest in the world, with about 800,000 businesses and 8 million workers. In 1990, the service sector accounted for about 72 percent of Tokyo’s labor force, most of which is located in the downtown central business district. The streets of Tokyo resemble their historic past with their narrow lanes that are ill-equipped to handle automobiles. More modern highways have been built in recent years to improve the transportation system, but the density of Tokyo’s population makes many forms of travel difficult. Residents must prove to the government that they have an off-street, overnight parking space available in order to own a car in the city. The Imperial Palace and its surrounding grounds is at the heart of Tokyo, home to the Emperor of Japan. Most of Tokyo’s government buildings are to the southwest, and farther south is Tokyo Tower. Resembling Paris’s Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower was built in 1958 and stands 1,093 feet tall. The historic districts of Tokyo are mainly to the north and east of the Imperial Palace. Crowded and historic Edo, or "Gate of the Inlet," is here, along with numerous schools, colleges, publishers, and student residences. The Kanda Shrine, one of the oldest in the city, plays host to a major festival every other year that celebrates the traditional Tokyo way of life, while nearby, the Akihabara district is most well-known for its electronics industry. Japan’s largest and most prestigious universities and museums are located in or near Tokyo. Ueno Park is home to the Tokyo National Museum, the country’s largest art museum, the National Museum of Western Art, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. Tokyo is the national center for modern and traditional performing arts, which includes the traditional Japanese drama styles of no and kabuki. Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2003 | |
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Tokyo's Imperial Palace was once owned by the Tokugawa Shogunate under the name Edo Castle, and was a great fortress. The castle was confiscated and renamed by the new government after the Shogunate's collapse in 1868. Today it is home to Japan's imperial family, and most of its surrounding land and exquisite gardens is owned by the municipality of Tokyo.
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Akihabara, Tokyo's main electronics district, resembles New York City's Times Square in its color and vibrancy. | |
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|  Mayor of NYC Michael Bloomberg Governor of Tokyo Shintaro Ishihara | |
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|  A flag hung outside a restaurant in Tokyo means it is open. If there is no flag, the restaurant is most likely closed. Photo Credit: "Jeremmy" | |
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