Edo to Tokyo (19th-20th century)
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Key information
- Duration
- 31 January – 21 March 2025
- Attendance mode
- Online
Course overview
In this online specialist art short course, we will explore the transition from Edo to Tokyo focusing on the city's shift from the Shogunal city of Edo to the Imperial capital of Tokyo.
By 1800, Edo was the largest city in the world with a population of over 1 million. Life in Edo was heavily influenced by the presence of the Shoguns and the vibrant culture of the townspeople. Following the restoration of Imperial rule in 1868, Japan embraced and integrated new technologies, styles, and fashions. We will examine the developments in the metropolis of Tokyo.
The lectures, given by leading experts in fields, will encompass a wide range of topics, including architecture, theatre, food culture, visual arts, and decorative and applied arts. The course aims to showcase both the changes and the continuities that can be observed in the transition from Edo to Tokyo.
This online short course is offered by the SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art and convened by Dr Monika Hinkel.
Image from the series: Famous Places of Tokyo: Past and Present
(Kokon Tōkyō meisho)
Top: The Owarichō stores Ebisuya and Hoteiya
Bottom: The Building of the Daily Newspaper in Owarichō
Utagawa Hiroshige III (1842-1894)
1884
Publisher: Tsujioka Bunsuke
Waseda University Library
Structure
The course features eight online lectures delivered via Zoom every Friday at 1pm (UK time). Each lecture is followed by an extended Q&A session.
All lectures will also be recorded and made available for registrants to view in their own time for a limited period. More information, including the full schedule of lectures, will be available in the near future.
If you're interested in being added to our mailing list, please email asianart@soas.ac.uk.