Let's explore more of the background.
Another fairly good treatment is from John Green in his "Crash Course History".
Understanding the major (and rapid) political and societal changes of this era is VERY important to the understanding of the context of Kokoro and the conflicts in the characters.
What passages in the text reflect the old versus new; traditional versus modern; rural versus urban; Western versus Japanese?
What specific events in Japanese history are directly referenced in the text?