London. Japanese Prince Hiroito, the future Emperor Showa, and Edward, Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII, pose side by side for a photograph that immortalizes them dressed virtually identically. They are at the tailor Henry Poole & Co. on Savile Row. The moment is symbolic, because Japan has long been trying to discover what makes the West so rich and powerful. When in doubt, they copy everything: the political system, education, culture, sports, clothing, army, navy, monetary system; it is even proposed adopting English. Finally, they adopt the most coveted aspect: the Colonial Empire.
