Fall of Edo

The Fall of Edo (江戸開城 Edo Kaijō) took place between May and July 1868, when the Japanese capital of Edo (modern Tokyo), 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.[1]

Katsu Kaishu, the Shogun's Army Minister, negotiated the surrender, which was unconditional.[2]

The Battle of Ueno was the final encounter leading to the complete fall of Edo.

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.[2] During that time, Tokugawa Yoshinobu had been under voluntary confinement at Kan'ei-ji temple.

The 16-year old Meiji Emperor, moving from Kyoto to Tokyo, end of 1868, after the fall of Edo.

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.[2]

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.

Notes

  1. ↑ Kornicki, Peter F. (1998). Meiji Japan, p. 96.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Perkins, Dorothy. (1997). Japan Goes to War, p. 8., p. 8, at Google Books; Marius Jansen. (1995). The making of modern Japan, p. 342., p. 342, at Google Books

References