In Japan the relative lack of independent software companies have been attributed to Keiretsu structure. Software development was just in-house activity to serve established product divisions. It was not seen as business to be sold independently. For example, Toyota made whole integrated CAD/CAM/CAE system called 'TOGO' in the late 90s.
As a result Japan has been mostly no-show in software business outside console games. Software they develop is sold inside hardware.
Oddly enough, Korea and Japan have even higher percentage of SMBs than in the US (can't remember the link but the OECD published such stats). However historically they served only as subcontractors to the chaebols and keiretsu groups.
I think that's changing in Korea and Japan as of recently. In the last 20 years, there has been a rise in startups serving massive audiences in online gaming, social media, and e-commerce. Think Nexon, Daum, Naver/LINE, Rakuten, SoftBank, etc.
While there are these mega-companies in RoK and Japan that have especially "close" relationships with governments, I don't think it's that dissimilar from the revolving door of lobbyists/board members/politicians in the US. Citizens in the US are similarly critical of corruption at this level in pharma, tobacco, military, etc.
At the same time, these companies are all responsible to varying degrees for the success of the economy and first-world lifestyle in the US, Japan, RoK. So you can't just want them not to exist either.