How to spend New Year (Jan. and the first half of Feb., 1802) 、正月の過ごし方（享和 2 年１～２月初旬） In 1802, Ezo Magistrate's Office was established in Hokkaido to strengthen security against Western ships especially Russia. Meanwhile, it was also a year of thrived economic power among common people and a rise in travel enthusiasm. A peaceful era continued inside Japan . 1802 年は、欧米の船に対する警備を強化するため蝦夷奉行が置かれた。一方で、十返舎一九の『東海道中膝栗毛』が発刊。庶民の経済力が高まり、旅行熱が高まった年でもある。 まだまだ平和な時代が続く 。 January The year began with New Year's greetings among villagers as usual. Then, they visited their temple and shrine. Behaviors on the New Year’s Day of some years are recorded just "as usual." in the diary. Btw, New Year's Day is described as sunny with a strong west wind. Weather was recorded every day. From the next day, they made New Year's greetings to relatives and acquaintances both inside and outside the village . Amazingly, this continued until early February. January is a...
The time in which the village head lived 、兵右衛門が生きた時代 The era of Edo culture's flourishing 、化政文化が隆盛を極めた時代 The year 1802, when the diary began, was a time when Western ships began appearing along the Japanese coast. On the other hand, Edo culture was at its peak. The publication of Jippensha Ikku's travel novel (Tokaidochu Hizakurige) ignited the travel boom, and Katsushika Hokusai, famous for his wave printing, established his artistic style. A junior high school history textbook states the following: Entertainments for ordinary people also flourished. Kabuki, sumo wrestling, and rakugo (comic storytelling) became popular; cherry blossom viewing and fireworks shows were enjoyed according to the season. Kabuki and sumo were also enjoyed in provinces. Trips to shrines and temples also became common, which were combined with sightseeing and therapeutic stays at hot springs. It's a good era. However, there was also famine while the diary was written from 1802 to 186...