>>17274294>imperial japanI do have grudging respect and admiration for Japan during the Meiji Restoration and until 1905 when they defeated Russia. Japan was opened up (at gunpoint) by the US and Western navies in 1853. Rurouni Kenshin actually introduced me to the political geniuses that modernized Japan in the 1860's to 1890's.
In a little more than 50 years, they went from a backwater archipelago to a modern industrialized power that annihilated the Russian Baltic Fleet spectacularly.
I don't like Japan in the 1930's and 1940's when they went full retard with militarism. If Japan had been more tactful in their treatment with other Asians and (Allied prisoners), they probably would've gained the reins as the top dog in Asia against Western imperialism. Just don't be a hypocritical bastard and oppress fellow Asians like Chinese, Koreans, and others.
As for modern Japan, well, look what we did. We neutered them spiritually.
>That said, I've always felt that the Japanese have a geniune affection for the West, while also asserting themselves as unique from it.That's Japan's modus operandi throughout its history. It always strove to maintain a Japanese character while adapting from other civilizations (China for much of its course) and now the US (as well as Britain, Germany, France, and trace amounts of Thailand via Muay Thai in karate/kenpo/Japanese kickboxing).
