In the late 19th century Japan was "opened" up by the west. The Japanese saw the advancements of the west and sought its own modern state. The process of this modernization came during the Meiji period, thus the Meiji Restoration. The Meiji Restoration completely altered the face of Japan, affecting societal, economic and political conditions.
With the coming of the west and the eventual modernization of Japan, many social norms changed according to the west. In past times, formal and everyday dress was a kimono of varying niceness, depending on many variables. During the Meiji restoration, the dress changes to western formal dress, which is a suit and tie, or for the emperor and his court, Prussian military outfits. This change is in the forefront of Rough Living, Oshima's eventual dream is to be a successful tailor with a "shop facing the main street in broad daylight" (Shusei, 138). Along with the new dress habits the structure of the army was changed as well. The new army was no longer to be dependant upon the daimyo and the samurai class, but instead the government setup a system of conscription, making it so anyone could be a warrior, which was a dramatic change from the way things had been. Without their warrior status, the samurai had no distinction nor income beyond what the government gave them, mostly in lump sums or bonds. This situation created much tension between the samurai and the government which eventually flowered into a rebellion, which the government was able to put down in less than a year. With the end of the feudal system and the dissolving of the Hans the central government once again placed itself in the center. Around this center huge cities grew, like Tokyo. While these cities grew with people seeking opportunities, the provinces suffered the loss of population and income, and were eventually relegated to and almost contemptible position. This is illustrated in Rough Living when Oshima suggests that her and Onoda take a trip to the province in which she once lived, and he shows reticence to go, she encourages him by saying, "everybody looks down on the provinces, but it was a wonderful place," (Shusei, 105).
