Final answer:
The similarities between China and Japan are best explained by Japan's admiration for and selective adoption of the success of Chinese governance and cultural elements, which were then adapted to suit Japanese needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The similarities between China and Japan as demonstrated in the passage are best explained by option (b) Japan admired the success of the centralized Chinese government and wished to implement some of its policies. The passage details how Japan maintained a close relationship with China since their first contact in the 5th century CE, importing various aspects of Chinese culture such as arts, technology, religion, writing systems, as well as political and social thought. Although Japan was at times a tribute-bearing state within the Chinese-run international system, they applied the imported elements in a manner suited to their own needs and context, with significant alterations leading to a uniquely Japanese evolution of these practices.
The Japanese implemented certain Chinese institutions, like the concept of an emperor, but with less centralized power than in China. Additionally, the Japanese government structure was considerably more decentralized, and different regions had various degrees of authority. This shows that while they borrowed from Chinese governance, they adapted these ideas to fit their own societal structure.