Early on, the Japanese bought ships directly from British, French, and German yards, and also bought ships that had been ordered by minor powers from US yards.
Shipyards were private businesses and if, for some inexplicable reason, British yards refused to accept orders from Japan, France would probably have been the most likely supplier. During the late 19th Century, France was clearly the second naval power after Britain and had the second most capable ship building industry. As noted, it is unlikely that Japan would want to become dependent on Russia for its major fleet units (Russia itself also being somewhat dependent on foreign construction), and even by the Russo-Japanese war the USA was beginning to be seen as Japan's next most likely strategic threat. I wouldn't see the Japanese turning to German yards for their initial buildup, given the fact that Germany was also just beginning to expand its capabilities and its yards were probably at capacity building ships for Germany.
I can't remember the specifics (and won't google it right now), but I believe a major reason the Japanese eventually settled on Britain was that an armored cruiser they ordered from France was lost (disappeared) in transit. This might have been more important than the switch from French to British naval doctrines.
Shipyards were private businesses and if, for some inexplicable reason, British yards refused to accept orders from Japan, France would probably have been the most likely supplier. During the late 19th Century, France was clearly the second naval power after Britain and had the second most capable ship building industry. As noted, it is unlikely that Japan would want to become dependent on Russia for its major fleet units (Russia itself also being somewhat dependent on foreign construction), and even by the Russo-Japanese war the USA was beginning to be seen as Japan's next most likely strategic threat. I wouldn't see the Japanese turning to German yards for their initial buildup, given the fact that Germany was also just beginning to expand its capabilities and its yards were probably at capacity building ships for Germany.
I can't remember the specifics (and won't google it right now), but I believe a major reason the Japanese eventually settled on Britain was that an armored cruiser they ordered from France was lost (disappeared) in transit. This might have been more important than the switch from French to British naval doctrines.