The eruption of Hokkaido Koma-ga-take in June 1640, resulting in heavy ashfall and plants poisoning in Tsugaru Peninsula and nearby areas, triggered local crop failures which continued into 1642. Early 1641 had already seen a high number of abnormal weather events in East Asia. In Japan, drought hit the Kinai and Chūgoku regions as well as the island of Shikoku. Cold winds and heavy rains afflicted the Hokuriku region. Elsewhere, the abnormal patterns of heavy rain, flooding, drought, frost (in particular, frost hit in Akita in August) and insect damage sent food reserves plummeting toward zero. Overall, the heaviest crop failures occurred in the Tōhoku region in areas facing the Sea of Japan.