For generations, Japan, a devoutly spiritual society, is closed to the outside world, but by the late 19th century, the country emerges as a budding regional power, enticed by the promise of modernization and commercial trade. After triumphing in clashes with neighboring China and Russia, Japan begins the 20th century with continued growth and militarization. In 1924, a new emperor, Hirohito, ascends to the throne, and is largely swayed by Imperial Army and Navy leaders tethered to a fervent belief in Japanese racial superiority and a greater destiny. With scarce natural resources to support Japan’s booming population, many begin advocating an expansion of the empire, particularly on the Asian mainland, where China is immersed in civil war.
JAPAN
Fighter pilots of the Imperial Japanese Navy, based on Formosa, June 1942
- PRELUDE TO WAR
- JAPAN
In 1931, Japanese troops seize control of Manchuria, a northern Chinese province rich in resources, and by 1937, the two countries are fully at war. There is no decisive outcome, prolonging the conflict for years, and by early 1941, the Japanese are in need of oil and other commodities to sustain their ongoing military operations. As Japanese forces edge closer to Western-held territories brimming with prized raw materials, the United States weighs in, answering the Japanese aggression with economic sanctions that escalate tensions between the Pacific rivals.
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