The article appears to be of the belief that no one in the Japanese government wanted war but they were all bumbling fools who couldn't say they didn't want war.

The anti-war faction weren't bumbling fools, but the decision was made and that was that. Konoye killed himself rather than lie to exonerate the emperor in the post-war kangaroo court.

The members of the anti-war faction knew bloody well that if they made too much of a fuss about it they would be assassinated. Perhaps the object lesson to learn from the Pacific War is that it's beyond insane to allow a culture of acceptable political assassination to develop in your system. See also how the Nazis were tacitly supported in their street battles etc. with the Communists et. al.

They wanted to go to war, just not against the US. They very much thought that they were racially superior to other Asians and would easily dominate them in battle.