How Japan saved its biggest city from collapse - Roman Krznaric (Level 1)

Four hundred years ago, Tokyo was known as Edo. It was a very big city with almost one million people. However, the city had a big problem. People had cut down too many trees. This caused floods and made it hard to find food. In 1603, a new government called the Tokugawa shogunate took control. They wanted to save the city and the country. They decided to close Japan to the outside world. Because they could not buy things from other countries, the people had to use their own resources very carefully. The leaders started a plan to plant millions of new trees. They also taught people not to waste anything. Builders made houses with wood that could be taken apart and used again. Families repaired old clothes instead of throwing them away. Even broken dishes were fixed with gold paint. Farmers used waste to grow food. Although life was hard for poor people because of high taxes, art and culture became very popular. Edo shows us that we can live well by fixing things and not making too much trash.