Capital of Japan

This article is about the Japanese national capital in general. For the current capital, see Tokyo.

The capital of Japan is Tokyo. In the course of history, the national capital has been in many locations other than Tokyo.

History

Traditionally, the home of the Emperor was considered the capital. From 794 through 1868, the Emperor lived in Kyoto. After 1868, the seat of the Government of Japan and the location of the Emperor's home was Tokyo.

In 1941, the Ministry of Education published the "designation of Tokyo as capital" (東京奠都, Tōkyō-tento).

After World War II, the new Constitution of Japan transferred the state's sovereignty from the Emperor to the people. The people of Japan are represented by the Diet of Japan in Tokyo. Consensus considers the site of the Diet is the capital of Japan.

Capital area

No law makes Tokyo as the Japanese capital. However, many laws have defined a "capital area" (首都圏, shutoken) which incorporates Tokyo.

Article 2 of the Capital Area Consolidation Law (首都圏整備法) of 1956 states that

"In this Act, the term 'capital area' shall denote a broad region comprising both the territory of Tokyo Metropolis as well as outlying regions designated by cabinet order."

Laws which identify this "capital area" include the Capital Expressway Public Corporation Law (首都高速道路公団法) and the Capital Area Greenbelt Preservation Law (首都圏近郊緑地保全法).

List of capitals

Legendary

This list of legendary capitals of Japan begins with the reign of Emperor Jimmu. The names of the Imperial palaces are in parentheses.

Kashiwabara, Yamato at the foot of Mt. Unebi during reign of Emperor Jimmu
Kazuraki, Yamato during reign of Emperor Suizei
Katashiha, Kawachi during the reign of Emperor Annei
Karu, Yamato during reign of Emperor Itoku.
Waki-no-kami, Yamato during the reign of Emperor Kosho
Muro, Yamato during reign of Emperor Koan
Kuruda, Yamato during the reign of Emperor Korei
Karu, Yamato during reign of Emperor Kōgen
Izakaha, Yamato during reign of Emperor Kaika
Shika, Yamato (Palace of Mizugaki) during reign of Emperor Sujin
Shika, Yamato (Palace of Tamagaki) during reign of Emperor Suinin
Makimuko, Yamato (Palace of Hishiro) during reign of Emperor Keiko
Shiga, Ōmi (Palace of Takaanaho) during reign of Emperor Seimu
Ando (Palace of Toyoura) and Kashiki on the island of Kyushu during reign of Emperor Chūai

Historical

This list of capitals includes the Imperial palaces names in parentheses.

Kofun period

Karushima, Yamato (Palace of Akira), reign of Emperor Ojin
Naniwa, Settsu (Palace of Takatsu), reign of Emperor Nintoku
Ihare, Yamato (Palace of Watasakura''), reign of Emperor Richū
Tajikhi, Kawachi (Palace of Shibakaki), reign of Emperor Hanzei
Asuka, Yamato (Palace of Tohotsu), reign of Emperor Ingyō
Isonokami, Yamato (Palace of Anaho), reign of Emperor Ankō
Sakurai, Nara (Hatsuse no Asakura Palace), 457–479 in reign of Emperor Yūryaku
Sakurai, Nara (Iware no Mikakuri Palace), 480–484 in reign of Emperor Seinei
Asuka, Yamato (Chikatsu-Asuka-Yatsuri Palace), 485–487 in reign of Emperor Kenzō
Tenri, Nara (Isonokami Hirotaka Palace), 488–498 in reign of Emperor Ninken
Hatsuse, Nara (Nimiki Palace), 499–506 in reign of Emperor Buretsu
Hirakata, Osaka (Kusuba Palace), 507–511^[source?]
Kyōtanabe, Kyoto (Tsutsuki Palace), 511–518
Nagaoka-kyō (Otokuni Palace), 518–526
Sakurai, Nara (Iware no Tamaho Palace), 526–532 in reign of Emperor Keitai
Kashihara, Nara (Magari no Kanahashi Palace), 532–535 in reign of Emperor Ankan
Sakurai, Nara (Hinokuma no Iorino Palace), 535-539 in reign of Emperor Senka

Asuka period

Asuka, Yamato (Shikishima no Kanasashi Palace), 540–571 in reign of Emperor Kimmei
Kōryō, Nara (Kudara no Ohi Palace), 572–575 ^[source?]
Sakurai, Nara (Osata no Sakitama Palace or Osada no Miya), 572–585 in reight of Emperor Bidatsu
Shiki District, Nara (Iwareikebe no Namitsuki Palace), 585–587 in the reign of Emperor Yomei
Shiki District, Nara (Kurahashi no Shibagaki Palace), 587–592 in the reign of Emperor Sushun
Asuka, Yamato (Toyura Palace or Toyura-no-miya), 593–603 in the reign of Empress Suiko
Asuka, Yamato (Oharida Palace or Oharida-no-miya), 603–629 in the reign of Empress Suiko
Asuka, Yamato (Okamoto Palace or Oakmoto-no-miya), 630–636 in the reign of Emperor Jomei
Kashihara, Nara (Tanaka Palace or Tanaka-no-miya), 636–639
Kōryō, Nara (Umayasaka Palace or Umayasaka-no-miya), 640
Kōryō, Nara (Kudara Palace or Kudara-no-miya), 640–642
Asuka, Yamato (Oharida Palace), 642–643
Asuka, Yamato (Itabuki Palace or Itabuki no miya), 643–645 in the reign of Empress Kōgyoku
Osaka (Naniwa-Nagara no Toyosaki Palace), 645–654 in the reign of Emperor Kōtoku
Asuka, Yamato (Itabuki Palace), 655–655 in the reign of Kōtoku
Asuka, Yamato (Kawahara Palace or Kawahara-no-miya), 655–655
Asuka, Yamato (Okamoto Palace or Nochi no Asuka-Okamoto-no-miya), 656–660 in the reign of Emperor Saimei
Asakura, Fukuoka (Asakura no Tachibana no Hironiwa Palace or Asakure no Tachibana no Hironiwa-no-miya), 660–661
Osaka, (Naniwa-Nagara no Toyosaki Palace), 661–667
Ōtsu, Shiga (Ōmi Ōtsu Palace or Ōmi Ōtsu-no-miya), 667–672 in reign of Emperor Tenji and the reign of Emperor Kobun
Asuka, Yamato (Kiyomihara Palace or Kiomihara-no-miya), 672–694 in the reign of Emperor Temmu and in the reign of Empress Jito
Fujiwara-kyō (Fujiwara Palace), 694–710 in the reign of Emperor Mommu

Nara period

Heijō-kyō (Heijō Palace), 710–740 in the reigns of Empress Genmei, Empress Gensho, and Emperor Shomu
Kuni-kyō (Kuni Palace), 740–744 in the reign of Shomu
Naniwa-kyō (Naniwa Palace), 744
Naniwa-kyō, Shigaraki Palace, 744–745
Heijō-kyō (Heijō Palace), 745–784
Nagaoka-kyō (Nagaoka Palace), 784–794 in the reign of Emperor Kammu

Heian period

Heian-kyō (Heian Palace), 794–1180 in the reign of Kammu and others
Fukuhara Palace, 1180 in the reign of Emperor Antoku
Heian-kyō/Kyoto (Heian Palace), 1180–1868
To-kyō (Kōkyo), 1868–present

References

1 2 3 Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp. 981–982. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
↑ Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp. 585–587. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
↑ 国会等の移転ホームページ – 国土交通省. Mlit.go.jp. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
↑ The term shuto came into use during the 1860s as a gloss of the Western concept of "capital". This term for capital was not used to refer to Kyoto.
↑ 首都圏整備法 Archived 2016-05-23 at the Portuguese Web Archive. Law.e-gov.go.jp. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
↑ 首都圏近郊緑地保全法 Archived 2005-03-01 at the Wayback Machine. Law.e-gov.go.jp. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1915). The Imperial Family of Japan, p. 1.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 2.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, pp. 2-3.
1 2 3 4 5 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 3.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 4.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 5.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 6.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 7.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 8.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 9.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 10.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 11.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 12.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Koch, W. (1904). Japan: Geschichte nach japanischen Quellen und ethnographische Skizzen. Mit einem Stammbaum des Kaisers von Japan. W. Baensch. p. 13.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 13.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 14; excerpt, "Mikaguri Palace"
↑ Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 15.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 16.
1 2 3 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 17; except, "Palace of Kanahashi at Magari, Yamato"
↑ Jien, Delmer Myers Brown, Ichirō Ishida (1979). 愚管抄: A Translation and Study of the Gukansho, an Interpretative History of Japan Written in 1219. University of California Press. pp. 262–263. ISBN 978-0-520-03460-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 18.
↑ Jien, Delmer Myers Brown, Ichirō Ishida (1979). 愚管抄: A Translation and Study of the Gukansho, an Interpretative History of Japan Written in 1219. University of California Press. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-520-03460-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 19.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Asuka Historical Museum, Palaces of the Asuka Period," Archived 2022-12-13 at the Wayback Machine 1995; retrieved 2011-11-25.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 20.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 21.
1 2 3 なにわ活性化プロジェクト (Naniwa Revialization Project),^{[permanent dead link]} August 24, 201; retrieved 2011-11-24.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 23.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 24.
1 2 Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 25.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 26.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 27.
↑ Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp. 200–201. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
1 2 Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 304. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 28.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 29.
↑ Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 574. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 30.
↑ Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 697. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
↑ Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp. 216–217. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 34.
1 2 Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp. 303–304. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
↑ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 37.

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[tokyo-1] 1 2 3 Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp. 981–982. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

[2] Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp. 585–587. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

[3] 国会等の移転ホームページ – 国土交通省. Mlit.go.jp. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.

[4] The term shuto came into use during the 1860s as a gloss of the Western concept of "capital". This term for capital was not used to refer to Kyoto.

[5] 首都圏整備法 Archived 2016-05-23 at the Portuguese Web Archive. Law.e-gov.go.jp. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.

[6] 首都圏近郊緑地保全法 Archived 2005-03-01 at the Wayback Machine. Law.e-gov.go.jp. Retrieved on 2011-04-29.

[7] Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1915). The Imperial Family of Japan, p. 1.

[ponsonby2-8] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 2.

[9] Ponsonby-Fane, pp. 2-3.

[ponsonby3-10] 1 2 3 4 5 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 3.

[11] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 4.

[12] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 5.

[13] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 6.

[ponsonby7-14] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 7.

[15] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 8.

[16] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 9.

[17] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 10.

[ponsonby11-18] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 11.

[19] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 12.

[koch-20] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Koch, W. (1904). Japan: Geschichte nach japanischen Quellen und ethnographische Skizzen. Mit einem Stammbaum des Kaisers von Japan. W. Baensch. p. 13.

[21] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 13.

[ponsonby14-22] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 14; excerpt, "Mikaguri Palace"

[23] Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

[ponsonby15-24] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 15.

[25] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 16.

[ponsonby17-26] 1 2 3 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 17; except, "Palace of Kanahashi at Magari, Yamato"

[27] Jien, Delmer Myers Brown, Ichirō Ishida (1979). 愚管抄: A Translation and Study of the Gukansho, an Interpretative History of Japan Written in 1219. University of California Press. pp. 262–263. ISBN 978-0-520-03460-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[28] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 18.

[29] Jien, Delmer Myers Brown, Ichirō Ishida (1979). 愚管抄: A Translation and Study of the Gukansho, an Interpretative History of Japan Written in 1219. University of California Press. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-520-03460-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[ponsonby19-30] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 19.

[asuka-31] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Asuka Historical Museum, Palaces of the Asuka Period," Archived 2022-12-13 at the Wayback Machine 1995; retrieved 2011-11-25.

[ponsonby20-32] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 20.

[ponsonby21-33] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 21.

[naniwa-34] 1 2 3 なにわ活性化プロジェクト (Naniwa Revialization Project),^{[permanent dead link]} August 24, 201; retrieved 2011-11-24.

[ponsonbyfane23-35] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 23.

[ponsonby24-36] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 24.

[Louis-Frédéric_2002_216-37] 1 2 Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

[38] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 25.

[39] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 26.

[ponsonby27-40] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 27.

[41] Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp. 200–201. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

[heijo-kyo-42] 1 2 Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 304. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

[43] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 28.

[ponsonby29-44] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 29.

[45] Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 574. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

[46] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 30.

[google697-47] Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 697. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

[48] Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp. 216–217. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

[ponsonby34-49] 1 2 Ponsonby-Fane, p. 34.

[heian-kyo-50] 1 2 Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. pp. 303–304. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.

[51] Ponsonby-Fane, p. 37.