%0 Journal Article
%T Why Did the Japanese Choose War: How to See through the ¡°Pretexts for War¡±
%A Yuanhang Chen
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 13
%N 6
%P 1-7
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2026
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1115510
%X This paper critically reviews Kato Yoko¡¯s <i>Why Did the Japanese Choose War</i>, aiming to assess the book¡¯s explanatory power and limitations from a social-psychological perspective. Through a close reading of Kato¡¯s historical narrative and comparative analysis with existing scholarship (e.g., Maruyama Masao, Iriye Akira), this review argues that while Kato¡¯s social-psychological approach offers a valuable new lens, it suffers from underdefined key concepts, insufficient critical engagement with the limits of her own framework (e.g., the roles of coercion, colonial subjects, and institutional power), and a lack of concrete methodological exemplification. The paper concludes that Kato¡¯s book makes an important contribution to understanding how societies normalize war, but its analytical claims require sharper articulation and empirical grounding. As a critical review essay, this paper also suggests specific directions for refining the book¡¯s argument and extending its relevance to contemporary debates on Japanese security politics.
%K Line of Interest
%K Victim Mentality
%K National Character
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=151952