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Though Tokyo is generally said today to have become the Imperial capital of Japan in [[1868]], when Edo was officially renamed Tokyo, [[Edo castle]] was designated the Imperial Palace, and the [[Meiji Emperor]] took up residence there, in fact there was little agreement at the time that Tokyo was to become (or had become) ''the'' Imperial capital. According to various metrics or definitions, Tokyo was not in fact ''the'' Imperial capital until sometime in the 1870s or 1880s, with some of the most significant [[Meiji government]] officials describing it as an ''[[anzaisho]]'', a temporary court, up until 1889. This argument is significantly aided by the fact that the palace was ravaged by fire in [[1873]], forcing the Imperial family to live in the former mansions of the [[Kishu Tokugawa clan|Kishû Tokugawa clan]] (designated the [[Akasaka Temporary Palace]] for the duration) until the new Imperial Palace was completed in [[1889]]. In the meantime, much of the former castle grounds became overgrown and infested with foxes and other wildlife.<ref>Fujitani, 41.</ref>

Though Tokyo is generally said today to have become the Imperial capital of Japan in [[1868]], when Edo was officially renamed Tokyo, [[Edo castle]] was designated the Imperial Palace, and the [[Meiji Emperor]] took up residence there, in fact there was little agreement at the time that Tokyo was to become (or had become) ''the'' Imperial capital. According to various metrics or definitions, Tokyo was not in fact ''the'' Imperial capital until sometime in the 1870s or 1880s, with some of the most significant [[Meiji government]] officials describing it as an ''[[anzaisho]]'', a temporary court, up until 1889. This argument is significantly aided by the fact that the palace was ravaged by fire in [[1873]], forcing the Imperial family to live in the former mansions of the [[Kishu Tokugawa clan|Kishû Tokugawa clan]] (designated the [[Akasaka Temporary Palace]] for the duration) until the new Imperial Palace was completed in [[1889]]. In the meantime, much of the former castle grounds became overgrown and infested with foxes and other wildlife.<ref>Fujitani, 41.</ref>

Figures such as [[Eto Shinpei|Etô Shinpei]] and [[Oki Takato|Ôki Takatô]], the first governor of Tokyo, expressing fears that with the [[Boshin War]] not yet over, Japan might split into east and west, proposed establishing Edo as a second imperial capital, a capital of the East, such that the Emperor might travel between Kyoto and Tokyo, and in so doing watch over the entire country, and enforce unity. [[Kido Takayoshi]] similarly advocated having Edo as an Eastern Capital, [[Osaka]] as a Western Capital, and Kyoto as the Imperial Capital,<ref name=fujitani4445>Fujitani, 44-45.</ref> and [[Inoue Yorikuni]] suggested that in the future they might even establish additional Imperial capitals in [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]] and [[Taiwan]].<ref name=fujitani33>Fujitani, 33.</ref> As a result of these concerns about establishing and enforcing national peace and unity, the Imperial Edict which officially declared Edo "Tokyo" on 1868/7/17 included that "the emperor looked upon ‘the realm as one house, the East and West equally.’"<ref name=fujitani4445/>

Figures such as [[Eto Shinpei|Etô Shinpei]] and [[Oki Takato|Ôki Takatô]], the first governor of Tokyo, expressing fears that with the [[Boshin War]] not yet over, Japan might split into east and west, proposed establishing Edo as a second imperial capital, a capital of the East, such that the Emperor might travel between Kyoto and Tokyo, and in so doing watch over the entire country, and enforce unity. [[Kido Takayoshi]] similarly advocated having Edo as an Eastern Capital, [[Osaka]] as a Western Capital, and Kyoto as the Imperial Capital,<ref name=fujitani4445>Fujitani, 44-45.</ref> and [[Iwakura Tomomi]], said to have had difficulty imagining Kyoto no longer being capital, presented a recommendation that Kyoto be renamed ''saikyô'' (Western Capital), to accompany [[Nara]], Tokyo, and a site in [[Hokkaido|Hokkaidô]] as the southern, eastern, and northern capitals respectively. He also suggested establishing imperial mausolea in both Tokyo and Kyoto, while the national legislature (the Kôgisho) similarly discussed in 1869 the possibility of establishing branch shrines of [[Ise Shrine]] in both cities, as centers for the national religion.<ref>Fujitani, 56-57.</ref> As a result of these concerns about establishing and enforcing national peace and unity, the Imperial Edict which officially declared Edo "Tokyo" on 1868/7/17 included that "the emperor looked upon ‘the realm as one house, the East and West equally.’"<ref name=fujitani4445/>

Even then, the Imperial House Laws drafted that year still mandated that ''sokui'' and ''[[daijosai|daijôsai]]'' accession ceremonies were to take place in Kyoto. Tokyo was not officially named "Imperial capital" (''teito'', 帝都) until 1889,<ref>[[Albert Craig]] (ed.), ''Japan: A Comparative View'', Princeton University Press (2015), 70.</ref> and as [[Fukuoka Takachika]], one of the drafters of the [[Charter Oath]], insisted, the Imperial Palace, though renamed ''kôkyo'' ("imperial residence") in 1868, was not officially designated "Imperial Palace" (''kyûjô'', 宮城) until 1889 and therefore was only an ''anzaisho'', base from which the emperor went out on Imperial progresses (tours).<ref name=fujitani33/>

Even then, the Imperial House Laws drafted that year still mandated that ''sokui'' and ''[[daijosai|daijôsai]]'' accession ceremonies were to take place in Kyoto. Tokyo was not officially named "Imperial capital" (''teito'', 帝都) until 1889,<ref>[[Albert Craig]] (ed.), ''Japan: A Comparative View'', Princeton University Press (2015), 70.</ref> and as [[Fukuoka Takachika]], one of the drafters of the [[Charter Oath]], insisted, the Imperial Palace, though renamed ''kôkyo'' ("imperial residence") in 1868, was not officially designated "Imperial Palace" (''kyûjô'', 宮城) until 1889 and therefore was only an ''anzaisho'', base from which the emperor went out on Imperial progresses (tours).<ref name=fujitani33/>