I was trying to figure out what explains the apparent discrepancy between "hierarchical" leading but "consensual" decision making in the Japan context...

Then I remembered that in a lot of Japanese companies, there is what's called a "Ringi" system, where important business decisions are circulated among a variety of business stakeholders. Everyone signs off, in order of their importance in the hierarchy.

It's a way of illustrating both broad internal support, but also "who's in charge" by the literal ordering of the sign-offs.