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How did the Tokyo dialect become the basis for standard Japanese?

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Japanese calligraphy — Japanese language Record of a haiku exchange on *kaishi* writing paper by Japanese poet Bashō and one of his pupils in the teacher's own handwriting, 17th century, from a hanging scroll (ink on paper).

Standard Japanese, known as kyōtsū-go (common language), is based on the dialect spoken in Tokyo. This standardization was established in the late 19th century, primarily driven by the creation of a national education system starting in 1886 and the expansion of widespread communication.12

While the Tokyo dialect serves as the foundation for the modern national language, it is worth noting that historically, the Kinki (Kamigata) subdialect of the Kyoto–Osaka region long served as the standard language of Japan. However, the shift toward the Tokyo-based standard was solidified by the modernization of the country, increased mobility, and the influence of mass media, which helped level regional dialectal differences and promote a unified form of speech understood nationwide.21