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How Japan Saved Its Biggest City From Collapse

Four hundred years ago, Tokyo — then called Edo — was near ecological collapse from deforestation. A TED-Ed lesson on how Tokugawa-era reforms and the idea of 'mottainai' turned Edo into one of history's most waste-free, sustainable cities.

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  • Videos 5 minutes or longer pause once or twice for a quick check. Get it right and you're on your way. If not, you'll see a friendly explanation and the video simply keeps going. Short videos skip the checks.
  • At the end there's a 3-question test. Score 60% or more to complete the lesson, and 80% or more to master it. You can always watch again and try for a higher score.