東京っていったいぜんたいどこ問題　Where is the TOKYO

東京23区　Tokyo’s 23 wards

1396万人以上もの人口が住む東京都全体はとても横に長い地形ですが、東京というと単に23区のみを指していることも多々あります。
23区は東京都区部とも言い、東京都東部の23の特別区から構成される区域です。東京都の都庁所在地である新宿区を含み、一般的には東京23区（とうきょうにじゅうさんく）と呼ばれています。また、東京駅や日本の政治の中心である霞ヶ関が所在する千代田区は都庁所在地ではないことも、いったい東京の中心地はどこなんだと、海外の方の混乱を招く要因になっています。
23区の人口は約970万人で、平均人口密度は1.5万人/㎢です。これって1㎡に15人いる計算になりますか？狂っていますね。日本ではこのような状況を鮨詰めと表現しまが、英語圏のドラマを見ているとイワシの缶詰という表現が出てきます。まさにイワシの缶詰状態の東京です。
ただ、東京は電車も時間どおり来るし、ゴミも落ちていないし、空気も汚くないし、数字ほど人が多いと感じさせない、という観光客も少なくないのが実情です。これが逆に東京の異様な底力で恐ろしいところだなと感じています。


The 23 special wards of Tokyo, commonly referred to as "Tokyo 23 wards," are a group of municipalities that form the core and most populous part of Tokyo, Japan's capital city. These wards are known for their dense urbanization, diverse neighborhoods, and significant cultural, economic, and administrative importance within Tokyo and globally. Each ward functions somewhat autonomously with its own local government, providing various services and amenities to residents and businesses alike. Together, they constitute a vibrant and dynamic urban landscape that showcases Tokyo's status as a leading global city.

Tokyo, home to a population of more than 13.96 million people, is a long, horizontally elongated area, but when people say "Tokyo," they often just mean the 23 wards.
The 23 wards sounds “Nijyu-San-Ku” are made up of 23 special wards in the eastern part of Tokyo. They include Shinjuku Ward, the capital of Tokyo, and are generally called the 23 wards of Tokyo. In addition, Chiyoda Ward, where Tokyo Station and Kasumigaseki, the political center of Japan are located, is not the capital of Tokyo, which is a factor that confuses people overseas easily about where the center of Tokyo is.
The population of the 23 wards is about 9.7 million, and the average population density is 15,000 people per square kilometer. Does this mean there are 15 people per square meter? That's crazy. In Japan, we would say like this density situation is like being stuffed sushi rice, but if you watch English TV dramas, you'll hear the expression "like being squeezed with sardines." Tokyo is exactly like being stuffed with sardines.
However, many tourists say that Tokyo trains run on time, there is no trash, and the number of people doesn't seem as large as the numbers suggest. I think this is the most scary thing about Tokyo.