I found the Aug. 26 Tokyo Confidential article "Time to dust off the swords" (Michael Hoffman's translation of a Sapio magazine article) to be highly thought-provoking because of the strong statements about Japanese ethics or norms, a rather sensitive issue to deal with. The focal point of the article is where the analysis converges on the statement that "peace, when it's taken for granted, can corrode the character."
sk,1 Let's not assume, though, that the article is aimed at inciting anarchy or senseless violence as a solution. The fact that analysts cite the absence of the ancient warrior culture (Bushido) is a bit telling, but it does not compel us to literally take up arms. Nor does it suggest a paradigm shift that would debunk the current set of values in modern Japanese society.
Rather, my interpretation is that the analysts are particularly skeptical of the practice of enryo, which translates to reserve or restraint. Enryo is a manifestation of creating peace by holding one's silence -- a discipline called for in various social situations. Enryo is a notable virtue, but I believe that too much of it is what recently allowed a man with a knife to rape a woman on a train full of passengers. It also has allowed high school and university students to become courageously defiant of rules and regulations and women to promiscuously flaunt themselves.
We need, therefore, to set our own thresholds for keeping calm, then vie for what is principally just and honorable when certain situations arise. After all, it has been generally noted that an excess of something, even if it is innately good, can be potentially harmful.
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