End of Edo: The Bet is Over

In 1868, the shogunate fell and the emperor was restored to power. This event is known as the Meiji Restoration. In preparation for this, many people predicted that Japan would become a great power. And in a way, they were right - except it was not Japan that became the great power, but Korea.

At the time of the Meiji Restoration, Korea was considered a backwards country. But in a few short years, it had become the most advanced country in East Asia. This rapid transformation caught Japan by surprise and it was not able to keep up. As a result, Korea became the dominant power in East Asia while Japan descended into military rule and isolationism.

The reason for Korea's sudden transformation is debated to this day. Some say it was because of good leadership while others claim that it was simply due to luck. But I believe there is a third factor at play: The Bet.

You see, at the time of the Meiji Restoration, there was a bet going on between two powerful figures in East Asia: Emperor Meiji of Japan and King Gojong of Korea. The bet was over who would be the first to modernize their country and become a great power. Emperor Meiji won the bet and as a result, Korea fell behind Japan.

This story has been largely forgotten in today's world, overshadowed by more famous events like World War II and the Korean War. But I believe it is an important episode in East Asian history that deserves to be remembered.

End of Edo: No More Casino or Gaming

Tokyo, Japan - For centuries, the city of Edo thrived as a cultural and economic center in Japan. But in the late 1800s, things began to change. The Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to dramatic modernization and Westernization in the country, which Edo struggled to keep up with. Then, in 1894, a major earthquake struck the city and did significant damage. In an effort to rebuild and revive the city, the government passed new laws allowing for casino gambling and other forms of gaming.

This proved to be a mistake. With easy access to gambling, addiction rates soared and crime increased. The negative effects of gaming were so great that in 1907 the government banned casinos and other forms of gaming altogether. This effectively ended the era of Edo and its prominence as a cultural and economic center in Japan.

While it's difficult to say exactly how much damage casino gambling and other forms of gaming did to Edo, it's clear that they had a significant negative impact. Today, we know that addiction rates and crime rates are closely linked to gaming, and it's reasonable to assume that this was also the case in Edo. The negative consequences of gaming were so great that the government was forced to take action and ban casinos and other forms of gaming.

As we learn more about the dangers of casino gambling and other forms of gaming, it's important to remember the lesson from Edo: these activities can have devastating consequences for cities and their residents. We should be cautious about legalizing them anywhere – especially given how easy it is for people to become addicted – and make sure that any potential benefits are weighed against the risks.

End of Edo: How to Play the Game

Edo is a two-player abstract strategy game that was popular in the late seventeenth century. The game is played on a square board with a number of black and white playing pieces. The aim of the game is to capture your opponent's pieces by trapping them between two of your pieces.

The game begins with each player placing their black pieces in the four corners of the board. White then places one piece in the centre of the board, and black places one piece opposite it. Play then proceeds anti-clockwise around the board, with each player taking turns to place a piece.

Each turn, a player can either move one of their pieces already on the board, or place a new piece. Pieces can be moved either horizontally or vertically, and can jump over other pieces. If a piece is jumped over, it is removed from the board. The aim is to trap your opponent's pieces between two of your own pieces, at which point they are captured and removed from the board.

The game is won by either capturing all of your opponent's pieces, or trapping them so they cannot make any more moves.

End of Edo: Slotgaming is Finished

Play for real

Play for real

Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan - August 1, 2019 - Slotgaming in Japan is coming to a close, as the last major casino closes its doors. The move is seen as the end of an era for slot gaming, which has been popular in Japan for decades.

The closure of the casino means that there are now no legal venues for slot gaming in Japan. The industry had been struggling in recent years as gambling restrictions tightened and interest in the games declined.

While some smaller casinos may stay open, they are not likely to see the same level of business as the larger venues. For slot enthusiasts in Japan, this marks the end of an era and leave them looking for other ways to get their fix.

Free Play at End of Edo!

In 1868, the shogunate regime in Japan collapsed and the country entered into a period of great transformation. One of the most significant changes brought about by the new Meiji government was a dramatic expansion of opportunities for ordinary people to engage in recreational activities. In particular, the Meiji government promoted "free play" as a way to nurture physical and mental health, individual creativity, and social cohesion.

The term "free play" originally referred to children's games that were not organized by adults and did not have specific rules or goals. The Meiji government believed that these types of games were essential for the healthy development of children. As part of its free play campaign, the government published pamphlets and articles describing innovative new playground games and organized mass events where children could try out these games.

gradually, the concept of free play came to be applied more broadly to recreational activities for adults. The Meiji government encouraged citizens to participate in a wide variety of activities, from athletic competitions to creative pursuits like music and painting. It also established parks and other public spaces where people could gather to enjoy nature and each other's company.

The promotion of free play had a significant impact on Japanese society. It helped foster a culture of active leisure pursuits, which continues to this day. In addition, the emphasis on creativity and socializing helped inculcate important values such as teamwork and community spirit. Free play remains an important part of Japanese culture, offering people opportunities for physical activity, self-expression, and social connection