Why was Japan more successful than China at adapting to challenges in the 19th century,like industrialization?

Question:

Note: I need an in-depth answer, thanks!

Answer:

One crucial factor that precedes all - geography.

China's vast territory is a handicap to both invaders and defenders alike. European colonists who first forced open China's doors found it practically impossible to control China in its entirety, not when India has already proven to be such a hassle that dragged down British forces to keep control. Another example then - Second Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese initially had the strategy of controlling China in a matter of WEEKS (the same guys who thought picking a fight with America would be easy game), but in the end more than half of Japan's military forces got bogged down around China's coast, and had to move South because China's interior geography was simply too difficult to overcome (one of the reasons why Chiang Kai-Shek moved the Nationalist capital to Chongqing, inland and far easier to defend than Nanking) China was easily defended and impossible to control. China contributed much to the Allied forces in the sense Japan was too preoccupied with China to effectively achieve its other goals, as well as cooperating with its counterparts, Nazi Germany and other Axis powers.

You may say Japan was a superpower, but it was still an island compared to China in terms of geographical size, it would be so much easier to coordinate the whole of Japan to industrialise than attempting to elect a central government in China that could effectively control and at the same time, please every citizen in China.

Right after the fall of the Qing Dynasty China fell into parts, generals returned to their homes to raise private armies and proclaiming themselves warlords, ranging from petty bands of mercenaries to armies equipped with top-notch technology. It was a remarkable feat for Sun Yat-Sen to unify China under a new nationalist government, but his successor, Yuan Shikai, HAD to gain power from corruption and attempt to revert back to imperialism, which caused the uneasy nationalist government fall apart again.

All in all, a country like Japan required remarkable leadership to transform and adapt to an industrialised world so fast, but it would take a politician and government of infinite wisdom and prowess to tame China in its entirety, even then idiots like Yuan Shikai could wipe the slate clean in a matter of days.