On the other hand, during the latter half of the Edo period, as the bakufu-domain system became unmatched with needs at that time and pressure from foreign nations had heightened, interests for history had increased among general public as well, and many popular histories, such as "Nihon Gaishi" (historical book on Japan) and "Kochoshiryaku" (brief history book about emperors from Jinmu to Gokomatsu), were published.
一方、江戸後期には幕藩体制の矛盾と対外緊張の高まりの中、庶民の間でも歴史への関心が広がり、『日本外史』『皇朝史略』など通俗的な歴史書が多く出版された。