In 1886, during the Meiji Restoration, Japan officially adopted the metric system as part of its rapid modernization and industrialization efforts to align with Western standards. This change supported scientific, engineering, and trade advancements. It symbolized Japan's transition from isolation to global engagement.

The adoption of the metric system in Japan during the Meiji era in 1886 symbolized the country's Westernization, influencing literature and poetry of the time. Poets like Masaoka Shiki used this shift to reflect on the tension between tradition and modernity, capturing the essence of a nation in transition.