Meiwa (明和) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,; lit. "year name") after Hōreki and before An'ei. This period started in June 1764 and ended in November 1772. During this time, the empress and emperor were Go-Sakuramachi-tennō (後桜町天皇) and Go-Momozono-tennō (後桃園天皇).
1766 (Meiwa 3): A plan to remove the Shogun was not successful.
1770 (Meiwa 7): A typhoon flattened the newly built Imperial Palace in Kyoto.
1770 (Meiwa 7): A great comet (Lexell's Comet) with a very long tale lit up the night skies throughout the summer and autumn.
1770 (Meiwa 7): This was the start of 15 years of drought in Japan.
9 January 1771: Empress Go-Sakuramachi abdicated;; and the succession passed to her nephew (senso). Soon after, Emperor Go-Momozono's role as monarch was confirmed by ceremonies (sokui).
29 February 1772 (Meiwa 9, 26th day or the 1st month): "The Great Meiwa Fire" -- one of the three greatest Edo fire disasters.
2 August 1772 (Meiwa 9, 4th day of the 6th month): A big storm in the Kantō with floods and lost crops.
17 August 1772 (Meiwa 9, 19th day of the 6th month): A major storm destroys 4000 houses in Edo.
♯The Northern pretenders did not recognize the Genkō era. Gentoku was used in the Northern Court until 1332. ₪The Shōkyō era was recognized only by the Northern pretenders, not by the Southern Court. ‡ Upon reunification of the Northern and Southern Courts in 1392, Genchū was discontinued. Meitoku was used until 1394.