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【English Name】Bunsei era (1818-1830)

The Bunsei era refers to the period of the Japanese era name spanning from 1818 to 1831 in the late Edo period. Following the preceding Bunka era and giving way to the subsequent Tenpo era, the era name was changed upon the accession of Emperor Ninko. Its source is said to be a passage from the Shun Dian chapter of the Chinese classic Shangshu.

In political terms, under the eleventh shogun Tokugawa Ienari, the head senior councilor (roju shuza) Mizuno Tadaakira held the center of shogunal government for about 17 years. To address the deterioration of the shogunate's finances, multiple recoinages were carried out, beginning with the minting of the Bunsei koban, but the mass circulation of new coins with a reduced gold content is said to have caused price inflation. The prevalence of bribery politics and the extravagant lifestyle of the shogun's household also strained the finances.

Together with the Bunka era it is also called the Kasei era, a period when townspeople's culture flourished centered on Edo. While popular cultural activities such as literature, ukiyo-e, and the performing arts became vigorous, records of the time also note a perception that society was in a recession. Inexpensive shops selling at uniform prices became fashionable, and merchandising methods akin to today's hundred-yen shops also appeared. From the standpoint of sushi culture, it is positioned as an important historical backdrop in which Edo's food culture matured.