The majority of the islands had been inhabited by the Ainu people. When the Japanese came from the Korean peninsula and settled/conquered the islands in the 9th century the Ainu were pushed back, displaced and lived marginalised lives as tanners or doing other undesirable jobs.
The only island I can think of that has been settled and hasn't had their first inhabitants conquered or colonized is Iceland.
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Japan was indeed colonized. By the Japanese.
The majority of the islands had been inhabited by the Ainu people. When the Japanese came from the Korean peninsula and settled/conquered the islands in the 9th century the Ainu were pushed back, displaced and lived marginalised lives as tanners or doing other undesirable jobs.
The only island I can think of that has been settled and hasn't had their first inhabitants conquered or colonized is Iceland.