Tokyo is the capital, the largest city, and the most populous metropolitan area in the Greater Tokyo Area, the Kantō region, and Japan, as well as the most populous metropolitan area in the world and most populous prefecture of Japan. It is the political and economic center of the country, as well as the seat of the Emperor of Japan and the national government.
| Tokyo in the early 1980s |
Tokyo is the largest urban economy in the world by gross domestic product, and is categorized as an Alpha+ city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Part of an industrial region that includes the cities of Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Chiba, Tokyo is Japan's leading center of business and finance.
Tokyo has the world’s tallest tower, Tokyo Skytree, and the world's largest underground floodwater diversion facility, MAOUDC. The Tokyo Metro Ginza Line is the oldest underground metro line in East Asia (1927).
Tokyo is also an international center of research and development and is represented by several major universities, notably the University of Tokyo. Tokyo Station is the central hub for Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train system, and the city is served by an extensive network of rail and subways. Shinjuku Station is also the world's busiest train station.
These fascinating photos were taken by Jean d'Hugues that show street scenes of Tokyo in the early 1980s.
| Lunch at Tsukiji, Tokyo, 1980 |
| Tokyo hostess, 1980 |
| Choice of tuna at Tsukiji, circa 1982 |
| Portrait of a geisha (maiko), Tokyo, 1982 |
| Shoe shining, Tokyo, 1982 |
See more »
