There were changes in both societies during the 19 th century, in Iceland these changes came with the Age of Enlightenment and in Japan, after more than two centuries of isolation, Westerners were allowed to enter the country again.
Á 19. öld urðu samfélagsbreytingar í báðum löndum, á Íslandi var þá upplýsingaöld og í Japan voru landamærin opnuð fyrir Vesturlandabúum eftir meira en tveggja alda einangrun.