1. because it had seen this occur during the Iwakura Mission
2. because it had seen this occur during the Meiji Restoration
3. because it had seen this occur in Belgium and France during the Industrial Revolutions in those countries
4. because it had seen this occur in South and Southeast Asia
All of these options could have contributed to Japan's fear of becoming a colony, but option 4 is the most accurate. Japan witnessed European colonialism in countries like South and Southeast Asia, where nations such as India and Indonesia were colonized by European powers. This experience may have fueled Japan's apprehension about the possibility of becoming a colony themselves. The Meiji Restoration and Iwakura Mission were significant events in Japanese history, but they were not directly linked to Japan's fear of becoming a colony. Additionally, the Industrial Revolutions in Belgium and France were not the main reasons for Japan's fear of colonization, although they may have influenced Japan's perception of Western powers.
