Japan was never a colony for many years of any western countries as far as I know, big difference with almost all the middle east and african countries.
And as you, Im also looking what is happening in the world, or at least trying to figure it out... but Im not assuming a culture it is better than the other or people from one country are better than people from another. This, I think, is a wrong way to look the problem. They are good things and bad things anywhere in the world. I asume you have traveled a lot and seeing by your self other countries?