32 karma · joined October 11, 2013
This is called 五回のなぜ in Japanese ("Go-kai no naze," or Why Five Times) and refers to root cause analysis. Of course the number of times the process need be repeated until the root cause is identified is variable. Five in this case is merely a jingly mnemonic, as Japanese people are so fond of.
Another factor is that the age of commercial airliners and the global transport systems has made efficient global migration & trade a reality for decades now. What citizens would accept attacking their brothers and sisters in another country, attacking their trading partners with whom they make their livings? Perhaps this is now the quintessential limiting factor in making war.
Um, combined with societies becoming more sex-positive, we are edging closer to realizing the mantra Make Love, Not War!
Given the high level of creative intelligence in Japan and also certain economic inefficiencies that Prime Minister Abe has acknowledged and is just taking steps to address, I hope these and many other factors give rise to a new breed of high-profile Japanese entrepreneurs with global aspirations. The future of country is in part depending on them.