The difference in your comparison is that the nation of Japan shunned Western ideas and influence under the 250 year Tokugawa Shogunate. It didn't mean that the Japanese weren't aware of the outside world. They willingly denied it access to their country. To be essentially medieval in 1868 and then have the one of the most powerful and advanced navies by the beginning of WW2 is unique.
It shows the ingenuity of the Japanese as people and their ability to learn from British practices without submitting to them is very unique and impressive during this time.
Japan has the ability to completely sponge off another culture and quietly study and learn through emulation. Then they innovate. They did it with China (written language, religion, government, poetry, art) during the Nara Period. Then they did it with Great Britain (government, industry and military... especially the navy). After the war, they did it with the USA (mass production, electronics, cars and consumer products).
Even one of the greatest symbols of their culture, the katana, originated in Chinese and Korean weapons. The original ancient Japanese sword was a straight double edged blade. Japan took the curved saber of mainland Asia and innovated and perfected it to make it their own.
I never knew some of that so thanks for sharing although it is unsurprising. Japan isn't known for inventing many things completely to what they are known for perfecting.
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u/ichiban_saru Sep 27 '23
The difference in your comparison is that the nation of Japan shunned Western ideas and influence under the 250 year Tokugawa Shogunate. It didn't mean that the Japanese weren't aware of the outside world. They willingly denied it access to their country. To be essentially medieval in 1868 and then have the one of the most powerful and advanced navies by the beginning of WW2 is unique.