I've often read that Japan's rapid modernization hid quite a lot of backwardness still present in the country, but never see it go into detail. How backwards, or modern, exactly was Japan in the Taisho and early Showa periods? Could an average Japanese expect to live a life akin to an average Aussie or American, or were they still quite poor in comparison and living more rudimentary lives? How was their technological and scientific base at this time?
The most common and a relatively good gauge of standard of living is GDP per capita. In 2011 USD PPP terms, Japan had $3,643 in 1937, while the UK had $9,718 and USA had $10,450, putting them slightly below the USSR, Argentina, and Austria. (Maddison Project) This implies very crudely that the average Japanese person could purchase a third of what the average American could, and roughly the same as Tanzania today.
Japan generally lagged the West in most indicators of modernity. Rail network length at 18,400km was shorter than Italy (23,000km) and significantly shorter than the UK or Germany, not to mention a lot less dense. Life insurance take-up at 14.4% lagged behind the USA at 56%.
Of course, all these metrics are on an average basis, which has all sort of statistical biases. Nonetheless, most modern inventions would not have been unfamiliar to the Japanese, only less prevalent and less affordable. The startling speed of globalisation and growing commoditisation meant while take-up differed greatly, the great cosmopolitan cities of the world offered very similar experiences whether in Shanghai, London, or Tokyo.
If you had a more specific thing in mind that might be easier to answer.