Unveiling Edo’s Past: A Digital Gateway to Historical Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan – September 4, 2025 – The National Diet Library’s Current Awareness Portal has announced the launch of an exciting new resource, “Edo Map: A Database of Place Names and Geography Utilizing Edo Kiriezu.” Published today, this innovative project promises to unlock the historical layers of Edo, the former name for present-day Tokyo, by leveraging the rich visual information contained within traditional Edo-era maps known as kiriezu.
The “Edo Map” project, detailed in the latest announcement from the Current Awareness Portal (Article ID: E2818), represents a significant undertaking in making historical geographical data more accessible and engaging. Kiriezu, detailed woodblock prints that depicted cities and regions with remarkable precision for their time, offer an invaluable window into the urban landscape, social structures, and daily life of the Edo period (1603-1868). By digitizing and organizing the information found within these intricate maps, the “Edo Map” project aims to create a robust and searchable database that goes beyond mere visual representation.
This new resource is designed to serve a wide audience, from academic researchers and historians to students and the general public with an interest in Tokyo’s past. The database will facilitate the exploration of Edo’s urban development, the tracing of historical place names that may still resonate in modern Tokyo, and the understanding of geographical features that have since been altered or transformed. Imagine being able to pinpoint the exact location of a samurai residence, a bustling market, or a significant temple as it existed centuries ago, simply by searching a digital interface.
The “Edo Map” project’s significance lies not only in its preservation of historical cartographic information but also in its innovative approach to data utilization. By creating a structured database, the project moves beyond static images of maps, enabling dynamic queries and analyses. This will allow for new insights into urban planning, the evolution of neighborhoods, and the movement of people and goods within the historic city.
The National Diet Library, through its Current Awareness Portal, consistently strives to highlight and disseminate important new resources that enrich our understanding of Japan’s cultural heritage. The launch of “Edo Map: A Database of Place Names and Geography Utilizing Edo Kiriezu” is a testament to this commitment, offering a compelling and accessible way to connect with the vibrant history of Edo and its enduring legacy in contemporary Tokyo. Further details on how to access and utilize this remarkable digital resource are expected to be made available through the Current Awareness Portal.
E2818 – 江戸マップ：江戸切絵図を活用した地名と地理のデータベース
AI has delivered the news.
The answer to the following question is obtained from Google Gemini.
カレントアウェアネス・ポータル published ‘E2818 – 江戸マップ：江戸切絵図を活用した地名と地理のデータベース’ at 2025-09-04 06:01. Please write a detailed article about this news in a polite tone with relevant information. Please reply in English with the article only.