1457 As ordered by Uesugi Mochitomo, the construction of Edo Castle begins in what is now the East Garden of the Kokyo Imperial Palace. Ota Dokan, Uesugi's vassal, is assigned the task.
1524 Hojo Ujitsuna enters Edo Castle.
1590 Tokugawa Ieyasu occupies Edo Castle.
1603 Tokugawa becomes shogun and rules Japan from Edo Castle, starting the Edo period of Japan which lasts until 1868. Edo develops rapidly under the Tokugawa shoguns.
1637 The construction of Edo Castle, including the main tower, is finally completed.
1657 The Great Fire of Edo (Edo Taika) destroys much of the Yoshiwara red-light district, Asakusa, and Edo Castle. 100,000 people die.
1701 In the shogun's palace, Asano Naganori draws his sword in a fit of anger and cuts Kira Yoshinaka, the highest-ranking master of protocol who had mocked Asano. Asano was immediately forced to commit ritual seppuku. At the end of the following year, his 47 masterless retainers avenged their master's death by attacking and beheading Kira at his residence in Ryogoku. This story of loyalty soon becomes a timeless classic known as "Chushingura."
1707 Mt. Fuji erupts and ash falls on Edo.
1855 The Great Edo Earthquake strikes.
1858 Ii Naosuke, who favoured opening Japan to the West, is assassinated by anti-foreign rebel samurai.
1867 Yoshinobu Tokugawa, Japan's last shogun, surrenders power to the emperor and flees Edo in 1868 following military defeat by powerful provincial lords seeking to return power to the Emperor.
1524 Hojo Ujitsuna enters Edo Castle.
1590 Tokugawa Ieyasu occupies Edo Castle.
1603 Tokugawa becomes shogun and rules Japan from Edo Castle, starting the Edo period of Japan which lasts until 1868. Edo develops rapidly under the Tokugawa shoguns.
1637 The construction of Edo Castle, including the main tower, is finally completed.
1657 The Great Fire of Edo (Edo Taika) destroys much of the Yoshiwara red-light district, Asakusa, and Edo Castle. 100,000 people die.
1701 In the shogun's palace, Asano Naganori draws his sword in a fit of anger and cuts Kira Yoshinaka, the highest-ranking master of protocol who had mocked Asano. Asano was immediately forced to commit ritual seppuku. At the end of the following year, his 47 masterless retainers avenged their master's death by attacking and beheading Kira at his residence in Ryogoku. This story of loyalty soon becomes a timeless classic known as "Chushingura."
1707 Mt. Fuji erupts and ash falls on Edo.
1855 The Great Edo Earthquake strikes.
1858 Ii Naosuke, who favoured opening Japan to the West, is assassinated by anti-foreign rebel samurai.
1867 Yoshinobu Tokugawa, Japan's last shogun, surrenders power to the emperor and flees Edo in 1868 following military defeat by powerful provincial lords seeking to return power to the Emperor.