Postwar Japan

This may be a stretch but I was listening to Noriko's speech in defense of loyalty and innocence to her father in which she famously says "I want us to stay who we are" and I thought of Japanese society. On a deeper level, was this meant to reflect the struggle of transitioning away from the old world culture and into a more Westernized way of life? Obviously there are indicators of American capitalism throughout the film such as the large Coca-Cola sign on their otherwise idyllic bike ride. There's the teashop sign in English, and during the repeat shot signaling her trips to downtown Tokyo there appears a Time Life billboard on a building in the background.

Their society was changing rapidly after the war, and for many it was no doubt romanticized as a move away from more innocent times. I've heard this film and that scene in particular really captivated the Japanese audience and elevated Setsuko Hara as a beloved starlet. Maybe I'm reaching, any thoughts?