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Japan achieved modernization, in part, by becoming brutal colonial rulers themselves.

And then a vassal state...

shh we only remember the good parts of history...

/s

Fair point. But I think it still nullifies the argument that countries can't modernize without 'civilized' colonial rulers.

Well there's so much going on in the modernization process that it's a bit unclear. Was the US required for Japan to (fully) modernize?