text: 's health, which had started a slow decline in 1818 worsened into the 1830s. He continued to publish but at a much slower pace than before. His wife's frequent illnesses taxed him as did his son's continued invalidity and 's rheumatism and vision loss progressed. He would feel bouts of energy between 1825 and 1835 that would allow him to continue working. In 1835,  passed and the blow was so devastating to  that he considered retiring from writing.
  Fearing the collapse of his newly restored family,  decided in 1836 to hold a party to celebrate his birthday. In reality, he did so to raise funds for  to afford a position as a low-ranking samurai. The gala attracted leading writers and publishers, poets and entertainers, and important officials form the 's court. 's future was secured though he was too young to serve at the time. 's cousin served in his place until 1840 under the name . In order to be closer to his grandson's post,  sold the family house in the city and moved into a rural estate. He would spend the last twelve years of his life there.
  lost vision in his right eye in 1834 and was completely blind by 1840. , who could read complex literature acted as 's amanuensis from 1840 till his death in 1848. With her assistance he finished several works and answered many letters and critiques. She also attended to the house as  had slipped into mental instability with the death of .  died in 1841.