Edo Period Japanese Preserved Food Using Salt

During the Edo period, Japan experienced winters 2-3 degrees Celsius colder than today, leading to frequent crop failures and famine, particularly in the Tohoku region. Farmers in Japan's Tohoku region during the Edo period faced frequent crop failures due to exceptionally cold winters, with temperatures 2-3 degrees Celsius lower than today. Temperatures during the Edo period were 2 to 3 degrees Celsius or more lower than in the present day. During the Edo period, people in the coastal areas of Shibuya River ate salted fish and preserved foods. Northeastern Japan experienced many deaths due to cold and lack of funds during the Edo period. However, records show fewer deaths from cold when funds were available, even in harsh winters. This suggests that firewood and charcoal, necessary for warmth, were more accessible in the Tohoku region compared to Kanto and western areas. Edo commoners' housing evolved to retain heat, with thin walls. The rise of the livestock industry in Edo led to the use of cats to control mice, and cats were also valued in winter as a substitute for flowers, often depicted in Ukiyo-e paintings of beautiful women. Additionally, as the Edo period progressed and the livestock industry grew, cats became for pest control, particularly mice. Fortunately, Edo citizens did not suffer from hunger. Edo commoner's houses gradually changed to have thin walls down to the ground to prevent heat loss.