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(jié)一致大幅改變戰(zhàn)略立場的時刻比比皆是。1868年，日本領(lǐng)導人為應(yīng)對西方殖民主義的威脅，拋棄了奉行數(shù)百年之久的封建主義。1945年，日本領(lǐng)導人放棄了利用武力來追求“偉大”的做法，轉(zhuǎn)而致力于實現(xiàn)經(jīng)濟繁榮的使命。今天，在國民經(jīng)濟經(jīng)歷了15年通縮之后，日本領(lǐng)導人再次大幅轉(zhuǎn)向，開始全力推行通脹政策。就戰(zhàn)略而言，這種突然轉(zhuǎn)向不由得讓人想起臭名昭著的偷襲珍珠港行動。