1897 Takebe Bird's-eye View Map of Tokyo

A large and visually stunning 1897 bird's-eye view map of Tokyo by Takebe Takisaburō. Somewhere between a view and a city plan, the three-dimensional aspect of this map effectively accentuates the scale and elegance of monumental structures around the city.

A Closer Look

The view takes in the entirety of the developed urban area of Tokyo. Tables at bottom list the neighborhoods and famous sites of the city's various wards (區), which are indicated on the map by characters in red circles. To the left of the tables is a thorough legend of symbols, while to the right is a box with introductory remarks on the intentions of the mapmakers and their source material (generally detailed government maps).

A number of structures stand out prominently, including the Imperial Palace (皇屋), administrative buildings and businesses surrounding the Imperial Palace, several military training grounds, the Yasukuni Shrine (here as Shokon-sha), the Imperial University, Ueno Park, the Kan'ei-ji, the Sensō-ji, and imperial residences in the western and southern portions of the city. The original Shimbashi Station, Tokyo's first railway station, sits in the foreground towards center-left. The names of several bridges, temples, streets, and other structures are translated or transliterated into Latin letters, though rather imperfectly.

A Bristling Imperial Capital

The title refers to the recent reorganization of Tokyo's administration, a frequent occurrence in the Meiji period, due to both the pace of its growth as well as changing bureaucratic practices and conceptions of governance. Initially following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, elements of the Tokugawa system of wards were maintained to appease elites who feared more rapid reforms. Then, in 1871 - 1872, Tokyo Prefecture was expanded and a system of 'large and small wards' (大區小區制) was put into place. Further adjustments were made before a wholesale reorganization was launched in 1888 - 1889, where the central government tried to administer Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto more directly. But this move was unpopular and was partially reversed abolished a decade later. These repeated changes required frequent updating of maps with the latest administrative divisions and place names.

Meiji Era Tokyo

With the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the Tokugawa were displaced and the Emperor Meiji moved the imperial capital from Kyoto to Edo (renamed Tokyo, 'eastern capital'). The Meiji Era was a period of tremendous change in Japan, particularly in cities, and in Tokyo more than any other. Most of the daimyo from throughout Japan who had maintained residences in Edo left with their families and staff, temporarily but significantly reducing the population. At the same time, new ideas, technologies, and fashions from abroad were sought out and adopted at an astonishing pace, and in the process were localized to suit Japanese tastes.

Building on the foundations of Tokugawa Edo, Meiji-era Tokyo intermingled traditional architecture with styles reminiscent of Victorian London. Many conscious efforts were made in the late Meiji era to design individual buildings and the entire city to rival the great capitals cities of Western countries. However, much of Tokyo as depicted here would be destroyed in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by Takebe Takisaburō (武部瀧三郎), printed by Wada Kotarō (和田此太郎), and distributed by Tamura Tetsunosuke (田村鐵之助) in May 1897 (Meiji 30). The text box at bottom also lists Iwahashi Shōzan (岩橋章山) as an editor or compiler. Unfortunately, few biographical details are available about these individuals, and they have only a small number of maps attributed between them. This view is only listed among the holdings of the National Diet Library and the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan and is scarce to the market.