The Japan Times80%
‘The Secret Battlefield’: An inside view of the machinery of war 77%
By James Hadfield92%
7/31/2026, 3:10:00 PM
Topics: Film Review
BS Summary: This article contains 14 faulty reasoning types, including Negativity Bias, Framing Effect, and Hindsight Bias, with Biased Writer Voice as the most egregious example at 31% saturation with 44 hits. Analysis detected 357 faulty-reasoning hits from 142 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 62.9% and a BS Rank of 77% (6,021 of 25,472 articles). This article is worse (more manipulative) than 76.40% of the article peer group.
History students love a good “what if?”
Would the authors of a man-made catastrophe have acted differently if they’d been aware of how badly things would turn out?
In the case of Japan’s decision to declare war against the United States in 1941, this isn’t just a hypothetical.
Only months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, a group of the country’s brightest young minds crunched the numbers and informed their leaders that a prolonged conflict with the U.S. could only end in defeat.
You probably know what happened next.
Yuya Ishii’s “The Secret Battlefield” dramatizes a little-known historical episode that still feels chillingly relevant.
This is a good year to be releasing a film about a country rushing into an ill-advised war seemingly because nobody was brave enough to stop it.
Confirmation Bias
0%Confirmation Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
3.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Anchoring Bias
0%Anchoring Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
1.8%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Availability Heuristic
4.2%Availability Heuristic
OverallThis article
4.2%AuthorJames Hadfield
1.1%PublicationThe Japan Times
4.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Representativeness Heuristic
0%Representativeness Heuristic
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
1.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Hindsight Bias
24.6%Hindsight Bias
OverallThis article
24.6%AuthorJames Hadfield
24.5%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.7%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Overconfidence Bias
0%Overconfidence Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
1.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Framing Effect
25.4%Framing Effect
OverallThis article
25.4%AuthorJames Hadfield
6.3%PublicationThe Japan Times
13.7%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Loss Aversion
0%Loss Aversion
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.8%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Status Quo Bias
0%Status Quo Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
1.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Sunk Cost Effect
0%Sunk Cost Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Optimism Bias
0%Optimism Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
4.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Pessimism Bias
19%Pessimism Bias
OverallThis article
19%AuthorJames Hadfield
4.8%PublicationThe Japan Times
3.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Negativity Bias
29.6%Negativity Bias
OverallThis article
29.6%AuthorJames Hadfield
12.1%PublicationThe Japan Times
11.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Self-Serving Bias
0%Self-Serving Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.8%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Fundamental Attribution Error
0%Fundamental Attribution Error
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
4.8%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Actor-Observer Bias
0%Actor-Observer Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
In-Group Bias
4.9%In-Group Bias
OverallThis article
4.9%AuthorJames Hadfield
1.2%PublicationThe Japan Times
1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Out-Group Homogeneity Bias
0%Out-Group Homogeneity Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.8%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Halo Effect
0%Halo Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
1.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Horn Effect
0%Horn Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Dunning-Kruger Effect
0%Dunning-Kruger Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Recency Bias
0%Recency Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
4.8%PublicationThe Japan Times
2.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Primacy Effect
0%Primacy Effect
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Blind-Spot Bias
0%Blind-Spot Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Ad Hominem
0%Ad Hominem
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Straw Man
0%Straw Man
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Appeal to Authority
0%Appeal to Authority
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
6.2%PublicationThe Japan Times
5.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
False Dilemma
14.8%False Dilemma
OverallThis article
14.8%AuthorJames Hadfield
8.5%PublicationThe Japan Times
1.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Slippery Slope
0%Slippery Slope
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Circular Reasoning
0%Circular Reasoning
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Hasty Generalization
0%Hasty Generalization
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
6%PublicationThe Japan Times
4.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Red Herring
0%Red Herring
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.3%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Bandwagon
0%Bandwagon
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.6%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Appeal to Emotion
19%Appeal to Emotion
OverallThis article
19%AuthorJames Hadfield
4.8%PublicationThe Japan Times
3.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Begging the Question
0%Begging the Question
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Post Hoc (False Cause)
14.1%Post Hoc (False Cause)
OverallThis article
14.1%AuthorJames Hadfield
3.5%PublicationThe Japan Times
4.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Tu Quoque
0%Tu Quoque
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Burden of Proof
0%Burden of Proof
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Appeal to Nature
0%Appeal to Nature
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Composition/Division
0%Composition/Division
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Anecdotal
24.6%Anecdotal
OverallThis article
24.6%AuthorJames Hadfield
6.2%PublicationThe Japan Times
1.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
No True Scotsman
0%No True Scotsman
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Ambiguity (Equivocation)
19%Ambiguity (Equivocation)
OverallThis article
19%AuthorJames Hadfield
4.8%PublicationThe Japan Times
2.9%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Gambler’s Fallacy
0%Gambler’s Fallacy
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Middle Ground
0%Middle Ground
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Personal Incredulity
0%Personal Incredulity
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Special Pleading
0%Special Pleading
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.1%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Genetic Fallacy
0%Genetic Fallacy
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Unattributed Quote
0%Unattributed Quote
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
4.4%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Quote-first Misdirection
0%Quote-first Misdirection
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
1.7%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Biased Writer Voice
31%Biased Writer Voice
OverallThis article
31%AuthorJames Hadfield
26.1%PublicationThe Japan Times
8.7%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Indoctrination
10.6%Indoctrination
OverallThis article
10.6%AuthorJames Hadfield
7.4%PublicationThe Japan Times
1.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Politically Left Leaning Bias
0%Politically Left Leaning Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Politically Right Leaning Bias
0%Politically Right Leaning Bias
OverallThis article
0%AuthorJames Hadfield
0%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.2%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
Attempt to Sell a Product or Service
10.6%Attempt to Sell a Product or Service
OverallThis article
10.6%AuthorJames Hadfield
2.6%PublicationThe Japan Times
0.5%Bar shows this article. Yellow and cyan markers show the selected author and publication averages.
142 words analyzed.
Analysis
Hover over highlighted words in the article to view the associated bias or fallacy analysis.