[stann]

A cynic would see Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea as vassal states of the US and as such "Western".

[jowea]

I think we're talking about culturally Western here, not geopolitically Western. I can't see even a (sane) cynic call these 3 countries culturally Western unless you think being a liberal democracy automatically makes you culturally Western. And Japan is one of the countries said to have "Westernized"!

[rayiner]

These countries aren’t fully westernized, but it’s impossible to deny they’ve been heavily influenced by the west. For example, traditional diets are being replaced by unhealthy western diets: https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/health/article/Pacific-C.... Or in another example, Japanese people are increasingly giving “unique” names to children: https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/mediarelations/archive/20220913_823...