After the Steam Revolution, steam technology experienced unprecedented development and was widely applied across various fields.

In the 1860s,

• Western powers gradually invaded, forcing the shogunate to open its borders. Ignoring the demands of the imperial court and the emperor, the shogun signed treaties with Western countries and opened a few ports for limited trade.

By the 1870s,

• The shogunate maintained an official policy of isolationism among the general public but tacitly allowed and promoted the research and introduction of steam technology at the higher levels of government.

• The shogunate viewed steam technology as a means to strengthen military power and maintain social control rather than as a tool for improving civilian life. However, to boost economic strength and productivity, the shogunate allowed the application of some steam technology to agriculture, mining, and manufacturing.

• Within the shogunate, there were extensive efforts to study and localize steam technology, aiming to improve it and reduce dependence on Western technology and control.

• Due to social unrest and growing public opposition, the shogunate issued a decree separating Shinto and Buddhism to reinforce its rule and weaken the influence of foreign religions. This move elevated Shinto to the status of the state religion while suppressing Buddhism and other religious sects.

From 1880,

• over the course of ten years, the shogunate reclaimed land along the southern coast near Edo, using an island as the center and gradually connecting surrounding small islands. This area became a special trade zone called Gozen-jima, offering favorable trade terms and serving as a hub for exchange with Western countries.

• Kira Michi is part of Gozen-jima, covering about one-tenth of the island. It serves as the entertainment center, attracting a large number of Western merchants and visitors.

The story is set in the year 1912.