It qualifies as both in my opinion.
But what developing countries haven't gone through this.
How about the United States in the 1960's - "no blacks/whites only".
Japan might be considered technologically well advanced, but socially many of the population are still developing to accept 20th century ideas.
For all their apparent politeness, and "irrashaimase", many are, in my opinion, social retards, unable to communicate effectively at a personal level.
But that's only my opinion.