Under pressure from the Western powers, between 1870 and 1945 Japan developed views of Korea and China that partially differed from those predominant among the colonial powers of the West. The latter often viewed their colonial subjects as targets of "civilizing missions" or, otherwise, completely excluded them from the benefits of development. However, the same pattern does not necessarily apply to Japan's strive for hegemony in Asia. Four case studies examine potential differences between Japanese and "Western" colonialism. Had international law of the 19th century any notable influence on Japan's treatment of its later colony Korea? Was Japan's Korea policy based on racialist views? Which changes can be identified in Japan's legitimization of its rule during its military expansion in East Asia? And did Japanese self-criticism after 1945 only address the political standards prescribed by the Allies or did it also include a re-evaluation of intellectual positions from modern China? Japanese language materials form the basis of this analysis.