[kijin]

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

[cactusface]

And then a vassal state...

[bjones22]

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.

[cactusface]

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?