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How did the Little Ice Age affect winter temperatures and harvests in Japan?

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Line graph showing estimated temperature variations from 1000 to 2000 CE for the Northern Hemisphere and central England, with three lines representing different data sources. The chart highlights the medieval warm period around 1100-1300 and the Little Ice Age from about 1500 to 1850, followed by a sharp temperature rise in the late 20th century. Temperature is shown as deviations from the 1961-1990 average. — Little Ice Age Estimates of temperature variations for the Northern Hemisphere and central England from 1000 to 2000 ce.

During the Little Ice Age, which spanned from the early 14th century to the mid-19th century, Japan experienced significant climatic shifts that impacted both its environment and agricultural output.

During this period, the mean winter temperature in Japan dropped by 3.5 °C (6.3 °F). In addition to these colder winters, the climate was characterized by excessive rains during the summer months. These environmental conditions had a detrimental effect on local agriculture, resulting in frequent bad harvests.1