During 752-753, an unusually severe cold snap in Japan damaged crops and caused famine during the Nara period. This climatic anomaly affected agricultural output in a society reliant on rice cultivation. It highlighted vulnerabilities to weather patterns, themes echoed in classical Japanese poetry that often celebrated or lamented seasonal changes and natural forces.

The Japanese cold snap of 752-753 was recorded in court poetry, capturing seasonal anomalies and their effects on nature. This event influenced later Japanese literature's relationship with the environment, as poets began to reflect on the transient beauty of nature and its impact on human experience.