2,500 Years Ago, the 'Ultimate Consulting Army' Debates Japan's Modern Challenges! Groundbreaking New Book by Rising Ancient Chinese History Scholar: 'If the Hundred Philosophers Debated Modern Japan’s Peace'

'If the Hundred Philosophers Debated Modern Japan’s Peace: Ancient Chinese Thinkers Reveal Security and Survival Strategies'

Toyo Keizai Shimbun, Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo Ward, Tokyo; President & CEO: Tetsuya Yamada) will release 'If the Hundred Philosophers Debated Modern Japan’s Peace: Ancient Chinese Thinkers Reveal Security and Survival Strategies,' the latest work by ancient Chinese history scholar Yohei Kakinuma, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

No platitudes—just a transcendent debate! The survival strategies of the Hundred Philosophers who mastered chaos.

International instability caught between U.S.-China rivalry, public opinion divided by social media, severe domestic issues like inflation and declining birthrates—modern Japan now faces an opaque era with no clear answers.

This book is the ultimate historical-thought experiment: over 20 thinkers from the 'Hundred Schools of Thought,' who survived the life-or-death chaos of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, gather to debate fiercely based on their respective philosophies.

What if they were 'stakeholders'? A completely new form of entertaining intellectual literature has been born, drawing wisdom and philosophy from these ancient minds.

Modern Japan, swaying between two superpowers, faces looming threats from rising powers and numerous serious domestic challenges. How, then, can we maintain peace moving forward?

Once, there were thinkers who lived through an era astonishingly similar to today’s turmoil—the 'Hundred Schools of Thought' of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Their philosophies are neither dull life lessons nor abstract theories. They are grounded 'security' and 'survival strategies' forged in the crucible of harsh reality.

Peace cannot be maintained by goodwill alone, deterrence alone, law alone, or financial resources alone. This book is for those who wish to think deeply and independently in an uncertain age with no single correct answer.

(From the book)

Time-transcending dialogues from philosophers tackling Japan’s essential modern challenges

Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi, Sun Tzu, Guanzi, Mozi, Laozi, and others—renowned thinkers of history gather to debate Japan’s future.

Modern Japan faces complex domestic and international challenges. If they were 'stakeholders,' how would they approach these issues?

[Sun Tzu] 'Increasing defense budgets? Pro-war rhetoric on social media? Once war begins, it's already the worst strategy.' [Guanzi] 'There is a “price manipulation” method to enrich the national treasury without raising taxes. In recessions, create jobs—even if it means digging holes.' [Han Feizi] 'Do not allow connections and sycophancy to block politicians’ vision. Immediately penalize broken campaign promises.' [Mencius] 'Before criticizing other countries as dictatorships, start by examining your own nation’s “virtue,” filled with hereditary politicians.' Etc.

Table of Contents

Prologue Opening Address—Parallels Between the Warring States Era and the Modern Age Chapter 1 Caught Between U.S.-China Rivalry—The 'Thucydides Trap' and Japan’s Fate Chapter 2 How to Preserve a Collapsing Order—Rediscovering 'Ritual' and the Essence of Humanity Chapter 3 The Art of Information Warfare—Spies, English Linguistic Imperialism, and the Hidden Side of Diplomacy Chapter 4 Anatomy of Leadership—Eliminating Corruption Through 'Law' and 'Technique' Chapter 5 Is the World Connected by Ideals or Desires?—The Illusion and Reality of Globalization Chapter 6 The Price of Peace—Strategic Resources and Guanzi’s Theory of Financial Resources Epilogue Closing Remarks

Author Profile

Yohei Kakinuma (b. 1980)

Professor at the School of Letters, Waseda University, and Director of the Institute for Yangtze River Basin Cultural Studies. Holds a Ph.D. in Literature. Major publications include 'Studies on the Economic History of Ancient Chinese Currency' and 'Continuity and Transformation in Ancient Chinese Monetary Economies' (both from Kyuko Shoin), 'Ancient Chinese Currency: People and Life Around Money' (Yoshikawa Kobunkan), 'Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang: The Three Kingdoms Through Financial Accounting' (Bungeishunju Shinsho), '24 Hours in Ancient China: Daily Life, Food, Clothing, Shelter, and Sexuality in the Qin-Han Era' (Chuokoron Shinsho), 'The Underworld of Ancient China: Legendary Knights-Errant and Back-Alley Stories' (Heibonsha Shinsho), and 'Annotated Translation of the Qin Bamboo Slips from Yuelu Academy, 'Four Cases of Judicial Proceedings'—Viewing Late Warring States Qin through Court Records' (2 volumes, editor, translator, annotator, Heibonsha Toyo Bunko).

Book Overview

'If the Hundred Philosophers Debated Modern Japan’s Peace: Ancient Chinese Thinkers Reveal Security and Survival Strategies'

Author: Yohei Kakinuma

Price: 1,980 JPY (tax included)

Release Date: July 15, 2026

ISBN: 978-4-492-44493-1

Format: Yonroku-ban / Paperback / 280 pages

Publisher: Toyo Keizai Shimbun, Inc.

Toyo Keizai Store: https://str.toyokeizai.net/books/9784492444931/

Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4492444939