Earth’s Model MEGACITY: Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is the most successful metropolis in the history of the world with 39 million residents, 50% more people than any other urban area. It is the safest big city on the planet and has a two trillion dollar GDP--an economy larger than all but eight entire countries.
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Video by Bryce Plank

Drone/helicopter videography courtesy of:

Music:
"Keep Em Coming" "Where Soul Meets Body"
YouTube Music Library

Media sources used in video:
And the film "Tsukiji Wonderland"

Script:
Our story begins 561 years ago when a samurai warrior built a castle on the shore of a fishing village called Edo. Its rich soil was ideal for growing rice and attracted farmers from far and wide.

In 1600, the great commander Tokugawa Ieyasu won the Battle of Sekigahara, a pivotal moment in history that secured Edo’s status as the most important place in Japan.

Unfortunately, the buildings of the expanding city were made of wood and paper, a dangerous combination to confront the warm winds of summer. Legend has it that on one particularly dry afternoon in 1657, a priest made the deadly mistake of burning an unlucky kimono. The fire flared up, ignited his temple, and engulfed 70% of the city. 100,000 people lost their lives.

Despite the disaster, by the middle of the 19th century Edo’s population was in the millions. That’s when the military shogunate system that had ruled for almost 700 years ended. A new government led by a young emperor finally made Edo the official capital of Japan, renamed it Tokyo.

Today, a century of conservation has resulted in parks covering 20% of the land in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Megacity Episodes:
Megacities of the World (Season 2 Complete)
Los Angeles, California's Megacity:
AFRICA'S MEGACITY: Kinshasa, DRC (CONGO)

[salokin]

Yes! Glad to see you're still at it! You're one of the few people that looks at global issues in a positive way

[Misterdalyus]

No matter how advanced their infrastructure are, one thing is enough to admire Tokyo: their citizen's discipline and orderliness. That's is top notch

[kachhh]

I've been to a lot countries and cities and Tokyo is by far my favorite city in the world for excelling and getting so many things right

[bn]

I feel like im living in the stone age after watching this

[TheDailyConversation]

Hi all! You may be wondering why I hadn't published in a while.

After creating videos full-time on YouTube for the last decade, I needed to take some time away to - among other things - strategize about how best to move forward.

My commitment to telling stories through video never wavered, but I realized it was time to learn new editing/creative skills--mainly the Adobe CC suite, which I used for the first time to make this video.

Thank you for supporting TDC! I can’t wait to make more interesting, better videos for you in the coming weeks, months, and years!

[lazyperfectionist]

The real beauty of Tokyo is the way they are pulling all this off in the middle of _Japan:_ the most geologically unstable place _on the planet._

[nishantahvan]

Japan have culture, discipline and mind. So here you have an awesome city and country. Respect from India 😎😎😎

[HaohanHBranDy]

Japan has all the good things from the west and the east, and that’s why it’s such a great country

[horatiohuskisson]

I was almost giving up hope, so glad you’re back

[TheRealEvilRoy]

The problem with Tokyo is that Godzilla destroys it every couple of years.

[rojashreejayakumar]

Love tokyo😍.. I was lost my way in tokyo.. Two japanese girls not oly gave directions but also walked me back to my hotel room...love japan and the japanese. The most helpful people in the world. And the best part is that japanese always smile😀😊😊

[theyoungtravelier]

So true... I've been to 60 countries and probably a thousand cities and I always say that Japan sets a standard for a megopolis.. Safe, easy to get around, great commerce, and nearly unlimited things to do. It is one of my favorite modern urban centers in the world next to Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, and London

[poppukonfilm]

Tokyo stole my heart. A place I'll always return to for long periods of time. Living like a local and exploring it's beautiful nature and urban life.

[philk]

Originally from Montreal, Canada ( also a great city). I've been living here in Tokyo for 14 years now and this city and it's people never cease to amaze me. I'm now a permanent resident and looking to purchase a home here to stay for the long run.

[Ryan-vxlk]

Tokyo was one of the cities that actually met my expectations and over it. The food is insanely delicious along with convenient transportation and clean places.👏

[michaelwatson]

Of the world's mega cities, Tokyo is my favourite. It is clean, efficient, and safe. And the best part is the wonderful people. They are patient with me when I haltingly speak their anguage.

[vanessavargas]

NYC use to be my favorite city until I visited Tokyo last year. Being there truly felt like a dream 😍

[ooglefluffg]

I remember not long ago having to explain to my grandparents that Japan is a first world country. They learned about Japan in school and still saw it as it was in the devastated post-war era. It's astonishing how far the country has come since then.

[Narutofanfreak]

this was an amazingly done video, it also made me love Japan so much more. The things in which america can learn from japan is just crazy.

[Yourhighnessnona]

When I was younger I worked at a themed restaurant in The Netherlands that hosted groups of tourists from different countries. When the Japanese groups came in, oh my god, I fell so in love with them because of how polite they were. We also barely had to clean up after they left because they were so orderly and clean and they always left big tips. Lovely people!