Its also a deeply important cultural piece and something they clearly hold a lot of pride in.

That's the kind of thing you need to tiptoe around incredibly carefully to even talk about, as one wrong word (correct or not) will sink your entire existence and have the entire world against you.

Look at what happens to Right-Wing figures in America who say something pro-gun control like Dan Crenshaw, for example. Literal overnight demonization, though we lack the conviction to force them out as the Japs do.