During the middle of the Edo period, as the publication of the uta-e gained momentum, an increasing number of people, including the common people, came to enjoy reading literary works like "Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji)" and "Ise Monogatari (The Tales of Ise)" and also enjoy light and refreshing works.
江戸時代も中期に入ると出版が盛んになり、町人にも源氏物語や伊勢物語などの文学作品に親しむものが増えたため、軽妙洒脱なものが喜ばれた。