Kanpō facts for kids

Kanpō (寛保), also known as Kampō, was a special way of naming time periods in Japan. It's like how we have years, but in Japan, they also had "era names" called nengō. The Kanpō era came after the Genbun era and before the Enkyō era.

This time period lasted for about three years. It started in February 1741 and finished in February 1744. During the Kanpō era, the emperor of Japan was Emperor Sakuramachi.

What Happened During the Kanpō Era?

A map of Japan made in London in 1744, during the Kanpō era.

During the Kanpō era, some interesting events took place.

• 1742 (Kanpō 2): People saw a bright comet in the night sky.

• 1742 (Kanpō 2, 8th month): There were big floods in several areas of Japan. These areas included Musashi, Kōzuke, Shimotsuke, and Shinano. In the old capital city of Heian-kyō (now Kyoto), the Sanjo Bridge was even washed away by the strong waters.

• 1743 (Kanpō 3, 11th month): Another comet was spotted in the sky. Scientists today believe this was likely a comet known as C/1743 C1 (De-Cheseaux).

Kanpō Era Years

Here's a quick look at the years that made up the Kanpō era:

See Also

• Edo period
• You can learn more about the Japanese calendar and its history at the National Diet Library's website: "The Japanese Calendar"