Tokyo, the capital of the Empire of Japan, is one of the foremost cities of the Orient. In spite of the terrible destruction wrought by the earthquake of September 1, 1923, Tokyo will soon be a greater city than before the earthquake. "Under the supervision of the Municipal Reconstruction Bureau in rebuilding Tokyo residential districts are segregated from commercial and industrial districts. Six new avenues, 100 to 150 feet wide, will cut across the most crowded sections, supplementing the existing main thoroughfares, and 122 new streets with a minimum width of 36 feet are laid out, replacing narrow and crooked lanes and streets; three large and 52 small parks will be added and a fifteen million yen (nearly $7,500,000) chain of public markets. Also, a subway will be built." Tokyo city proper under census of August, 1925, had a population of 2,036,136. Including subrubs--that is, Greater Tokyo--the people numbered 3,859,674.
Primary education is compulsory from six to fourteen years of age, and very exceptional and strong reasons must be given by parents or guardians to secure excuse from attendance. Above the primary grade expenses are small, even the universities being remarkably cheap, as compared with America or Europe.
