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| '''[[Prefecture Name:=Tokyo]]''' (東京, literally "Eastern capital") is the seat of the [[Nation Located In::Directory:Japan|Japanese]] government and the Imperial Palace, the home of the Japanese Imperial Family, and the ''[[de facto]]'' capital of [[Capital Of::Directory:Japan|Japan]]. | | '''[[Prefecture Name:=Tokyo]]''' (東京, literally "Eastern capital") is the seat of the [[Nation Located In::Directory:Japan|Japanese]] government and the Imperial Palace, the home of the Japanese Imperial Family, and the ''[[de facto]]'' capital of [[Capital Of::Directory:Japan|Japan]]. |
| + | Tokyo is considered one of the world's major global cities and a megacity. |
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| Prior to 1943, [[Prefecture Located In::Directory:Tokyo|Tokyo]] was the name of both one of the 47 prefectures of Japan, Tokyo-fu, and the populous city of Tokyo in the eastern half of the prefecture. In 1943 the city and prefecture were merged into a unique prefectural level government entity, known as ''Tōkyō-to'' 東京都 or "Tokyo Metropolis". This administrative region includes the twenty-three "special wards" of the former city, many suburban cities in the western half of the prefecture, and two chains of islands extending south into the [[Pacific Ocean]]. About 12 million people, 10 percent of Japan's population, live within Tōkyō-to's prefectural boundaries. | | Prior to 1943, [[Prefecture Located In::Directory:Tokyo|Tokyo]] was the name of both one of the 47 prefectures of Japan, Tokyo-fu, and the populous city of Tokyo in the eastern half of the prefecture. In 1943 the city and prefecture were merged into a unique prefectural level government entity, known as ''Tōkyō-to'' 東京都 or "Tokyo Metropolis". This administrative region includes the twenty-three "special wards" of the former city, many suburban cities in the western half of the prefecture, and two chains of islands extending south into the [[Pacific Ocean]]. About 12 million people, 10 percent of Japan's population, live within Tōkyō-to's prefectural boundaries. |
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| + | ==Economy== |
| + | Tokyo has the largest metropolitan economy in the world, despite falling in ranks in recent years due to economic stagnation and currency fluctuations: its nominal GDP is around US$[[GDP (US)1,315,000,000,000| 1.315 trillion]]. In April 1995, due to excessively strong yen (79/dollar), greater Tokyo's GDP was valued at $1.9 trillion, then ranking fourth compared to nations in the world (after Germany and US) and larger than the 1995 nominal GDP of South Korea, China, and Taiwan combined, 28% of the entire nominal GDP of USA ($6.7 trillion then), and over 6% of world GDP at the time. |
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| About 35 million people live in the Greater Tokyo Area which encompasses Tōkyō-to and surrounding prefectures, making it the world's most populous metropolitan area. | | About 35 million people live in the Greater Tokyo Area which encompasses Tōkyō-to and surrounding prefectures, making it the world's most populous metropolitan area. |
− | Because of its huge population and wealth, many world records are or were held here, including the most expensive real estate ever ($1.5 million/sq meter in 1990), the most expensive city for over a decade running, the most passengers served by its train system, and has the largest GDP of any metropolitan area in the world. | + | Because of its huge population and wealth, many world records are or were held here, including the most expensive real estate ever ($1.5 million/sq meter in 1990), the most expensive city for over a decade running, and the most passengers served by its train system/ |
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− | Tokyo is considered one of the world's major global cities and a megacity. The word "Tokyo" may refer to ''Tōkyō-to'' as a whole, or only to the main urban mass under its jurisdiction (thus excluding west Tama and Izu / Ogasawara Islands), or even the whole of Greater Tokyo Area, depending on context. This article refers to ''Tōkyō-to'' unless otherwise stated.
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| ==External links== | | ==External links== |