The metropolitan area of Tokyo is the largest in the world today at over 38 million people! So, it is only appropriate that one of the world’s largest rubber company, Bridgestone, is also based in Tokyo with global tire sales at 26.2 billion USD. Also, Bridgestone is number five in the world for non-tire rubber products (at 3 million USD). In addition, 20 miles away is the home of Yokohama Tire Company in Yokohama, which is the ninth largest tire company in the world with sales of 6 billion USD. Also, Tokyo is reported to have 51 of the World’s Fortune Global 500 companies. Also Tokyo has been called the World’s most “livable city”.
Tokyo has hosted the International Rubber Conference (IRC). Many rubber technologists from the Tokyo area participate on a regular basis in the annual International Standards Organization (ISO) for TC45 (Technical Committee on Rubber), writing and reviewing various rubber test standards and specifications, used all over the world.
Tokyo has some excellent universities that teach all aspects of Material Science. Tokyo Institute of Technology is very good. Also, Tokyo University of Science is also very good as well. Tokyo also has the Society of Rubber Science and Technology which is dedicated to working with rubber, elastomers, and soft materials. In addition, Toyota Technological Institute in Nagoya has an excellent school of engineering.
“Edo” was the former name of Tokyo. It was the Tokugawa Shogunate seat of power when the Shogun ruled in 1603 CE. The Emperor Meiji moved the Japanese Capital from Kyoto to Edo, which became Tokyo in 1868. Tokyo has had tremendous growth ever since. Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964 and will again in 2020.
Things to do in Tokyo are given below.
- Harajuku (Avant-garde art museum)
- Senso-ji (Historic temple)
- Go up the Tokyo Tower
- Go up the Tokyo Skytree
- Go shopping in Ginza
- Visit Tokyo Disneyland
- See the Imperial Palace
- Visit Tsukiji Market (Fish Market)
- Visit Yokohama (20 miles away)