Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to forcibly extract money or another good, in exchange for their safe release. Ransom is typically paid either by individuals or by governments.

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is a clause outlawing war as a means to settle international disputes involving the Japanese state and banning the development of national war potential. War potential means any force exceeding a minimum level necessary for self-defence. Defensive weapons are allowed but not offensive ones such as ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. The Article was added to the Constitution during the Allied Occupation of Japan following WWII as a Pacifist clause and bars Japan from maintaining an Army, Navy, or Air Force. In practice, Japan maintains a Self Defense Forces, a de facto military force.

‘Intergenerational meritocracy’ is a national ethos adopted to differing extents in countries (for example, the ‘American Dream’ in the United States and ‘British Promise’ in the United Kingdom). It most commonly emphasises sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work, and the idea that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain upward mobility and their own version of success.

The cult of productivity refers to a set of norms where being continuously productive and busy in both your professional and personal life is seen as desirable and virtuous.