Critics of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policies, or "Abenomics," say there's no easy remedy for Japan's entrenched "deflationary mindset" -- a penchant for caution and cash-hoarding instead of risk-taking and spending. But perhaps banishing the belief prices will keep falling isn't such a Herculean task after all.

In an October survey of 1,000 Japanese retail investors to be released later this month by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, 56% of respondents said they expected deflation to end soon...