A combination of geographic and cultural isolation with strong economy promotes cultural elitism, sticking to their own culture (by extension, language) instead of adapting to other cultures. UK and Japan are strong candidates. read more
Much of Japan’s supposed uniqueness, in other words, was propaganda; a political exercise in nation building and establishing Japan’s credentials as a standalone culture distinct from China. Tokyo used that propaganda to create support for Japan’s imperial ambitions, based on the supposed superiority of the Japanese, who were closer to the divine emperor than foreigners. read more