True. Japan was a successful western country before anyway. It was a united country, adapted western political system, even had a few colonies, it was a modern country. After the war, it kept its king, and Eisenhower really took the interests of Japan to his heart, the government was essentially the same with a different agenda. Normally the installed governments would work towards the interests of its patrons, not working for its people, that's when it starts to fail. I don't think Taliban would work for Afghanistan for the same reason, if they work for the benefit of their religion, not the benefit of their people, they will not succeed.

The installed governments of aggressors who lost. Germany certainly didn't do too badly.