noun
Edo; Yedo
Historical name for Tokyo during the shogunate period (1603–1868). Used in historical contexts and place names.
江戸時代は約260年続いた。
The Edo period lasted about 260 years.
彼は江戸の歴史に詳しい。
He is knowledgeable about the history of Edo.
Tokyo is the modern name of the city after the Meiji Restoration; 江戸 refers specifically to the city under the Tokugawa shogunate.
The name 江戸 literally means 'estuary' or 'bay entrance', referring to its location at the mouth of the Sumida River. The exact origin of the name is uncertain, but it has been in use since at least the 12th century.