Japan’s history is full of moments when the elites rallied around a dramatic shift in strategy. In 1868, its leaders ditched hundreds of years of feudalism in response to the threat of western colonialism. In 1945, they abandoned the pursuit of “greatness” via military means and set diligently about the task of achieving economic prosperity. Now, after 15 years of deflation, Japan’s leadership has dramatically reversed course again by going hell for leather for inflation. In strategic terms, the sudden shift is reminiscent of the notorious attack on Pearl Harbor.
在日本歷史上,精英階層團結一致大幅改變戰略立場的時刻比比皆是。1868年,日本領導人爲應對西方殖民主義的威脅,拋棄了奉行數百年之久的封建主義。1945年,日本領導人放棄了利用武力來追求「偉大」的做法,轉而致力於實現經濟繁榮的使命。今天,在國民經濟經歷了15年通縮之後,日本領導人再次大幅轉向,開始全力推行通膨政策。就戰略而言,這種突然轉向不由得讓人想起臭名昭著的偷襲珍珠港行動。