Fall of Edo
Encyclopedia
The took place between May and July 1868, when the Japanese capital of Edo
(modern Tokyo
), theretofore controlled by the Tokugawa Shogunate
, fell to forces favorable to the restoration of Emperor Meiji
during the Boshin war
.
Saigō Takamori
, leading the victorious imperial forces north and east through Japan, had won the Battle of Kōshū-Katsunuma
in the approaches to the capital. He was eventually able to surround Edo
in May 1868.
Katsu Kaishu
, the Shogun
's Army Minister, negotiated the surrender, which was unconditional.
Some groups continued to resist after this formal surrender but were defeated in the Battle of Ueno
in northeastern Tokyo, on 4 July 1868. The city was fully under control in July 1868. During that time, Tokugawa Yoshinobu
had been under voluntary confinement at Kan'ei-ji
temple.
On 3 September 1868, the city was renamed Tokyo
(lit. "Eastern capital"), and the Meiji Emperor moved his capital to Tokyo, electing residence in Edo castle
, today's Imperial Palace.
A small monument has been erected at the location of the surrender meeting between Saigo Takamori and Katsu Kaishu, at Minato-ku
, Shiba
5-33-1, two minutes from Tamachi Station
.
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
(modern Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
), theretofore controlled by the Tokugawa Shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
, fell to forces favorable to the restoration of Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
during the Boshin war
Boshin War
The was a civil war in Japan, fought from 1868 to 1869 between forces of the ruling Tokugawa shogunate and those seeking to return political power to the imperial court....
.
Saigō Takamori
Saigo Takamori
was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history, living during the late Edo Period and early Meiji Era. He has been dubbed the last true samurai.-Early life:...
, leading the victorious imperial forces north and east through Japan, had won the Battle of Kōshū-Katsunuma
Battle of Koshu-Katsunuma
The was a battle between pro-Imperial and Tokugawa shogunate forces during the Boshin War in Japan. The battle followed the Battle of Toba-Fushimi on 29 March 1868 .-Prelude:...
in the approaches to the capital. He was eventually able to surround Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
in May 1868.
Katsu Kaishu
Katsu Kaishu
was a Japanese statesman, naval engineer during the Late Tokugawa shogunate and early Meiji period. Kaishū was a nickname which he took from a piece of calligraphy by Sakuma Shōzan. He went through a series of given names throughout his life; his childhood name was and his real name was...
, the Shogun
Shogun
A was one of the hereditary military dictators of Japan from 1192 to 1867. In this period, the shoguns, or their shikken regents , were the de facto rulers of Japan though they were nominally appointed by the emperor...
's Army Minister, negotiated the surrender, which was unconditional.
Battle of Ueno
The Battle of Ueno was a battle of the Boshin War, which occurred on July 4, 1868 , between the troops of the Shōgitai under Shibusawa Seiichirō and Amano Hachirō, and Imperial "Kangun" troops....
in northeastern Tokyo, on 4 July 1868. The city was fully under control in July 1868. During that time, Tokugawa Yoshinobu
Tokugawa Yoshinobu
was the 15th and last shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan. He was part of a movement which aimed to reform the aging shogunate, but was ultimately unsuccessful...
had been under voluntary confinement at Kan'ei-ji
Kan'ei-ji
-External links:** * National Diet Library: ; *...
temple.
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
(lit. "Eastern capital"), and the Meiji Emperor moved his capital to Tokyo, electing residence in Edo castle
Edo Castle
, also known as , is a flatland castle that was built in 1457 by Ōta Dōkan. It is located in Chiyoda in Tokyo, then known as Edo, Toshima District, Musashi Province. Tokugawa Ieyasu established the Tokugawa shogunate here. It was the residence of the shogun and location of the shogunate, and also...
, today's Imperial Palace.
A small monument has been erected at the location of the surrender meeting between Saigo Takamori and Katsu Kaishu, at Minato-ku
Minato, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 1 March 2008, it had an official population of 217,335 and a population density of 10,865 persons per km². The total area is 20.34 km².Minato hosts 49 embassies...
, Shiba
Shiba, Tokyo
Shiba is a district of Minato, Tokyo, Japan, located near Hamamatsucho and Tamachi Stations on the Yamanote Line and Mita Station on the Toei Mita Line....
5-33-1, two minutes from Tamachi Station
Tamachi Station (Tokyo)
is a railway station in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.-History:The station opened on December 16, 1909 as an intermediate station on the newly opened Shinagawa-Karasumori section of the national railway.-Lines:...
.