Changes

The relaxation of ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' obligations in [[1862]] meant that [[han|domains]] no longer needed to maintain mansions and extensive staffs or retainer bases in Edo. Combined with the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate in the 1868 [[Meiji Restoration]], the [[abolition of the han]] in [[1871]], and the attenuation of samurai stipends, many ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'' abandoned their [[daimyo yashiki|mansions]] in the city in the 1860s-1870s, and returned to their home provinces along with their families and (former) retainers, with many other samurai leaving the city in other ways. Edo thus dropped from a population height of around 1.3 million in the early 19th century to just over 500,000 in [[1869]], returning to peak levels only around [[1889]].<ref>Fujitani, 39.</ref> The dramatic loss of so many consumers from the city over a relatively short period of time also had a significant depressive effect upon the city's commercial economy, from which it also took some time to recover.

The relaxation of ''[[sankin kotai|sankin kôtai]]'' obligations in [[1862]] meant that [[han|domains]] no longer needed to maintain mansions and extensive staffs or retainer bases in Edo. Combined with the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate in the 1868 [[Meiji Restoration]], the [[abolition of the han]] in [[1871]], and the attenuation of samurai stipends, many ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]'' abandoned their [[daimyo yashiki|mansions]] in the city in the 1860s-1870s, and returned to their home provinces along with their families and (former) retainers, with many other samurai leaving the city in other ways. Edo thus dropped from a population height of around 1.3 million in the early 19th century to just over 500,000 in [[1869]], returning to peak levels only around [[1889]].<ref>Fujitani, 39.</ref> The dramatic loss of so many consumers from the city over a relatively short period of time also had a significant depressive effect upon the city's commercial economy, from which it also took some time to recover.

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 [[Kishu Tokugawa Edo mansion|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 [[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/>

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/>