Kyōhō famine
The Kyōhō famine (享保の大飢饉, Kyōhō no daikikin), was a famine which affected Japanese Kyushu island during the reign of Emperor Nakamikado in Edo period. The estimated number of deaths from the starvation is 12,172-169,000.[1] It is considered to have begun in 1732, and lasted until 1733. It was named after the Kyōhō era (1716–1736). The ruling shogun during the famine was Tokugawa Yoshimune.
Events leading to the famine
The leadup to Kyōhō famine is not exactly known.[2] The Kyōhō Reforms ruling in 1728 increasing government tax from 40% to 50% may have reduced agricultural productivity and food stocks. The 1730 ruling, introducing obligatory rice buying quotas for Han estate owners and wealthy merchants, have resulted in rice becoming a cash crop and the reduction of diversity of the Japanese foods package. Also, the scarcity of Sesame oil and Whale oil for seeds treatment have contributed to the severity of later insects infestation.[3]
Events on the famine
Starting from December 1731 and into March 1732, the heavy rains has damaged the winter cereals (wheat and barley) fields, and communities has difficulty re-planting fields because the seeds reserve was already driven low by years of marginal harvests. In the May–June 1732, the cold, wet weather has continued for two months in Chūgoku, Shikoku and Kyushu regions, resulting in favourable conditions for proliferation of insects and rotting of rice seedlings. Either Unka (insect) or locust infestation, has appeared in Seto Inland Sea region and proceed to destroy rice paddies across West Japan, leaving only 10% of crops unaffected. The total rice tax available to public over Japan in 1732 was 630,000 koku - only 27% of average. Also, the epizooty killing draft animals has broke out in July 1732 in Fukuoka Domain.[4] The prices to the rice on market soared, reaching 5 to 7 times of normal values during the peak of famine. Consequently, the fishing villages relying on cash products to get the essential foods were hardest hit, losing up to the third of the population. Average population die-off reported in Fukuoka Domain was 20% (66,000 of 320,000), while inland villages suffered less than 10% deaths. Majority of deaths were children. Southern Kyushu was also affected, but the mortality was less than in Northern Kyushu. Furthermore, at least 5919 deaths from starvation were recorded in Iyo-Matsuyama Domain, where people resorted to eating bracken and kudzu roots, straw and wood flour.[5] Also, during the New Year celebrations of 1733, the household utensils and rice sacks of merchant Takama Denbii (高間伝兵衛)were thrown to river by a farmer's mob of 1,700 men frustrated by the rumours of him hoarding a food, in the event known in Japan as Kyōhō housebreaking - the first recorded strike action in Japan.
The famine has largely ended in March 1733.
Aftermath of the famine
According to shogunate official records, the death toll of famine was 12,172. Actual death toll still may be higher and reach 169,000, despite the Kyōhō famine being largely localized to Kyushu island. The number of 969,900 deaths provided in Tokugawa Jikki is likely exaggeration not confirmed by other sources. The role of sweet potato (smuggled in 1711 by Asami Kichijūrō Hidetaka from Satsuma Domain) in averting famine at Ōmishima in Seto Inland Sea region was noted and the sweet potato was consequently widely adopted across the Japan. Also, Shogunate has implemented in 1735 the reforms to diversify the food package. Peasants were allowed to grow cash crops or technical crops (oil or fiber plants) in exchange for the extra taxes. The Kyushu island has never more experiences famines, as in 2017, despite the soaring population densities.
The Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival was established in response to the Kyōhō famine.
Also, the Kyōhō famine had a large negative impact on the Kyōhō Reforms of the Japanese economics.[6]
Notes and references
This article incorporates material from the article 享保の大飢饉 in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved on 5 July 2017.