政府は西洋化・中央集権(ちゅうおうしゅうけん)を進め、半蔵の夢見た古代素朴の理想は完全に踏みにじられた

Finally, the Meiji Restoration was accomplished, and it seemed as if 'the dawn' had arrived. However, what the new Meiji government promoted was Westernization, modernization, and a cold centralized system for enriching the country and strengthening the military. The 'natural, ancient, simple life' Hanzo dreamed of was completely trampled; the forests of Kiso were confiscated as national land, and the farmers suffered under heavier taxes than in the Edo period.