This is just “normal” Japanese “groupthink”. Normal Japanese mass hysteria. Could be some sort of mental defect caused by massive inbreeding. They suffer from severe herding behavior.
Japanese actions during the Pacific War, when looked at through this lens, make perfect sense. Made times very tough for many decades for many, many people (Koreans especially, Chinese too, of course.)
Remember Japan well though I haven’t been there in forty years. Excellent place to learn about human nature, though such understanding puts you “on the outside looking in” in any society you live amongst. Humans are not at their best in crowds, and nothing special when not. “Less than angels but more than animals”? I can’t agree with the second part.
Right. As a herd, humans are no better than a bunch of buffaloes in prairie. No amount of high education can deter it as we have seen plenty in the real world.