The Secrets of Edo Revealed Through Hiroshige's Ukiyo-e and Topography

Are Hiroshige's ukiyo-e prints actually photographs from the Edo period?! The author, a huge fan of Hiroshige's ukiyo-e prints, decided to change his perspective and look at them...and discovered that astonishing facts were written into the prints! Furthermore, when combined with his specialized knowledge of civil engineering and flood control, the mysteries of Edo's topography and history are solved, revealing the hidden secrets of the Edo Shogunate's politics and structure. Takemura-sensei, whose best-selling series "Solving the Mysteries of Japanese History with Topography" has sold over 300,000 copies, offers unique solutions for each famous place depicted in works such as "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo" and "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido." Nihonbashi, Yotsuya, Naito, Shinjuku, Tameike, Shimbashi... With this book in hand, it's fun to stroll around the topography of Edo! Packed with beautiful color illustrations, this is a must-have book!

[Table of Contents] Chapter 1. A Journey Beginning with Nihonbashi: Japanese Identity Is Thinner and Smaller Chapter 2. "Sankin-Kotai" and "Unified Language" Chapter 3. Information Networks Formed by Water Transportation Chapter 4. Onagi River, the Warring States Autobahn Chapter 5. "Kokunodai," the Most Important Military Base in the Kanto Plain Chapter 6. Horse Manure Proves Edo: The Ultimate Recycling City Chapter 7. Considering Energy Issues from Hiroshige's "Bald Mountain" Chapter 8. Shitaya Hirokoji: The Origin of the Disaster-Resistant City Chapter 9. The Japanese and Bridge Building: Desire for the Other Side Chapter 10. Nihonzutsumi and Yoshiwara's Red-Light District --Edo Protected by the Citizens-- Chapter 11: From a Red-Light District Window to 500 Years of Time and Space: The "High Ground" Device Chapter 12: Where Yamata no Orochi Sleeps: The Fate of a Wetland City Chapter 13: A Literal Bird's-Eye View Chapter 14: The Story of Water, the Lifeblood of Japan Chapter 15: History Births Modernity --From Cattle to Trains-- Chapter 16: A Symbol of Modernization: The Opening of the Railway and the Beginnings of the Resident Movement

[Author] Kotaro Takemura Representative Director and Secretary-General of the Japan Water Forum (NPO), Visiting Professor at the National Personnel Authority Training Institute, Ph.D. in Engineering. Joined the Ministry of Construction in 1970. Served as Director-General of the River Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism before assuming his current position. His publications include the best-selling trilogy "Solving the Mysteries of Japanese History Through Topography" (PHP Institute), "Hydroelectric Power Will Save Japan" (Toyo Keizai Inc.), and many others, with a total of over 300,000 copies sold.