A series of poor harvests and famines in Japan during the 1550s, linked to cooler conditions from the Little Ice Age and possible volcanic influences, strained feudal society and influenced daimyo conflicts. Land degradation from intensive rice cultivation compounded vulnerabilities.

Haiku and waka poetry of the period subtly reflected seasonal disruptions and impermanence, with Matsuo Bashō later drawing on such motifs. It contributed to Japanese literary traditions of nature observation amid adversity, informing modern ecopoetry on climate resilience.