Regular visitors to Travel Between The Pages are well aware by now of my deep fascination with all things Japan. So, it will come as no surprise that I am sharing this fabulous animated film from Ted-Ed on the amazing renaissance of Tokyo during the Edo Period.

400 years ago, Edo was on the verge of ecological collapse. Years of intense logging had led to massive deforestation and the city faced timber shortages, severe erosion, and frequent flooding. But over just a few decades, Edo became one of the most sustainable and efficient cities in history. So, how did this come about? Roman Krznaric explores Edo’s transformation into a circular economy. Lesson by Roman Krznaric, directed by Héloïse Dorsan-Rachet.

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