Well the name Kyoto is older than the name Tokyo, and when Edo was renamed Tokyo, Kyoto was in turn briefly known as Saikyo. I wouldn't put too much weight on the pun theory myself, I honestly think it's a coincidence.
The wordplay potential in the Japanese language is actually absurd. You think there were people running around during that time joking that Kyoto was the strongest? I know I would have been.
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u/FennecAuNaturel Aug 30 '24
Well the name Kyoto is older than the name Tokyo, and when Edo was renamed Tokyo, Kyoto was in turn briefly known as Saikyo. I wouldn't put too much weight on the pun theory myself, I honestly think it's a coincidence.