Edo-Tokyo Museum to Hold Exhibition Highlighting the 30,000 Year History of Tokyo

16.September.2021 | SPOT

Tokyo as we know it today is built upon tens of thousands of years of history. The Paleolithic era, during which traces of human life have been found in the Tokyo area, dates back more than 30,000 years. It might be difficult to imagine what life was like so long ago, but ruins discovered during urban development offer a glimpse into the ancient past. 

 

The Edo-Tokyo Museum opened in 1993, and is set to begin a large-scale renovation in April 2022. Prior to the museum’s temporary closure, a special exhibition titled ‘Memories of the City: A Thirty Thousand Year History of Tokyo’ will open from September 18 until December 5, 2021. The installation will look back on the history of Japan’s capital, from the Paleolithic era to the present day.

Tokyo Takanawa Coast Steam Railway – Hiroshige Utagawa III. 1871. 

Sword-shaped Haniwa. Excavated from Kannonzuka Burial Mound. From the Kofun Period (250-538 CE)

Roof tiles. Excavated from the Site of Musashi Kokubunji Temple. From the Nara Period (710-794 CE)

Scene from Yamabuki no Sato by Ota Dokan. Saitou Yukio, Saitou Yukitaka, Saitou Gesshin, Hasegawa Settan. 1836. 

Excavated Materials from Hachioji Castle Ruins. From the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1558-1600 CE)

Map of Edo. 1666. 

Procession of the Lords of Edo. Adachi Ginko. 1889. 

Washington Heights (Tokyo Aerial Photograph). Satou Suiyou. 1957.

Blazer worn by the Japanese Delegation at Tokyo Olympic Games. 1964. 

Nipponbashi at Dawn. Kawase Hasui. 1940. 

 

 

As urban development continues to progress, it’s incredible to look back at the many people who have lived in the Tokyo area, and the many events that have taken place over time. Recently, a new train stop was added to the busy Yamanote Line in the capital, and the remains of an old railroad track were discovered during construction! What else might be hiding beneath the metropolis? 

 

Tokyo has undergone constant change due to natural disasters, war, and urban development, but historical buildings and important spots that tell the story of the city are being carefully preserved for future generations. Visitors to Japan often comment on this, claiming that so much of Tokyo’s beauty comes from it’s blend of old and new. 

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    Wa no Akari Room

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