Guiding questions:

What were the origins of Japanese militarism and nationalism?

How important were economic factors in explaining Japan's expansionist foreign policy in the 1930s?

What was the impact of nationalism and militarism on Japan's foreign policy in the 1930s?

What was the international reaction to Japan's international actions?

Why did tension with the West grow after 1938?

Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour in 1941?

'In this climate of economic despair and political decline, the military emerged as a seemingly shining and pure example of the true spirit of the nation. Aided in part by decades of indoctrination, the military found its most fervent support in the down-trodden rural areas'. (A contemporary observation, 1929)

What point is this observer making as to reasons why the military grew in prestige in the late 1920s?

According to this extract from a recent text-book, why was Manchuria of growing importance to Japan by the 1930s

Eastern parts of Manchuria and most of the Korean peninsula had already been under the control of the Japanese empire for three decades after the First Sino-Japanese War of 1895. Japan had gained control of Port Arthur, as well as control of railway and mineral rights when it defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 - 05. With the growth of nationalism in Japan, and also the economic crisis that started in 1930 following the Wall Street crash, the attraction of Manchuria as 'a lifeline' for Japan grew. It's wealth of resources (coal, iron and timber) and its potential as a market for Japanese goods, were increasingly enticing to a Japan suffering the deprivations of the depression. In addition, it could provide living space for an over-populated Japan. Diplomat Yosuke Matsuoko described Manchuria as as a 'lifeline' and 'our only means of survival'.

Read the following extract from a modern text-book:

Japan's leaders justified their actions in Manchuria by stressing the need for national security, raw materials and the need for territory. The global economic crisis of the late 1920s and early 1930s, alongside the growing international tension, only gave extra weight to their claims. Manchuria, they argued, would allow Japan to withstand any economic blockade from hostile nations, would provide space for Japan's increasing population and would also allow Japan to maintain its status as a great power.

According to this source, why was it necessary for Japan to takeover Manchuria?

Japan's justification of the establishment of 'a new order' was announced on the radio June 29 1940 by Foreign Minister Arito Hachiro.

What, according to Japan's foreign minister, was the rationale for Japan establishing 'a New Order'?

Japan's ideal since the foundation of the empire has been that all nations should be enabled to find their proper places in the world. Our foreign policy has also been based upon this ideal, for which we have not hesitated at times even to fight by staking our national existence.

What all mankind longs for is the firm establishment of world peace. but it goes without saying that peace can never endure unless it is a peace in which all nations enjoy their proper places. Unfortunately , however, the establishment of world peace in this sense is difficult of speedy realization at the present stage of human progress. In order to realize such a high ideal, therefore, it seems to be a most natural step that peoples who are closely related with one another geographically, racially, culturally and economically should first form a sphere of their own for coexistence and co-prosperity and establish peace and order within that sphere and, at the same time, secure a relationship of common existence and propserity with other spheres...

It is in this spirit that Japan is now engaged in the task of establishing a new order in East Asia..

The countries of East Asia and the regions of the South Seas are geographically, historically, racially and economically very closely related to each other. They are destined to cooperate and minister to one another's needs of their common well-being and prosperity and to promote peace and progress in their regions. The uniting of all these regions under single sphere on the basis of common existence and insuring thereby the stability of that sphere is, I think, a natural conclusion.

Arita, The International Situation and Japan's position' June 29, 1940 reprinted in Tokyo Gazette (August 1940) pg 78 - 79.

Note that you can read the full speech here

In pairs, read the Tripartite Pact below.

1. What were the motives of the Japanese in signing this pact?
2. What was the reaction of the Western powers likely be to this pact?

The Governments of Japan, Germany, and Italy consider it as the condition precedent of any lasting peace that all nations in the world be given each its own proper place, have decided to stand by and co-operate with one another in their efforts in Greater East Asia and the regions of Europe respectively wherein it is their prime purpose to establish and maintain a new order of things, calculated to promote the mutual prosperity and welfare of the peoples concerned. It is, furthermore, the desire of the three Governments to extend cooperation to nations in other spheres of the world that are inclined to direct their efforts along lines similar to their own for the purpose of realizing their ultimate object, world peace. Accordingly, the Governments of Japan, Germany and Italy have agreed as follows:^[1]

ARTICLE 1. Japan recognizes and respects the leadership of Germany and Italy in the establishment of a new order in Europe.

ARTICLE 2. Germany and Italy recognize and respect the leadership of Japan in the establishment of a new order in Greater East Asia.

ARTICLE 3. Japan, Germany, and Italy agree to cooperate in their efforts on aforesaid lines. They further undertake to assist one another with all political, economic and military means if one of the Contracting Powers is attacked by a Power at present not involved in the European War or in the Japanese-Chinese conflict.

ARTICLE 4. With a view to implementing the present pact, joint technical commissions, to be appointed by the respective Governments of Japan, Germany and Italy, will meet without delay.

ARTICLE 5. Japan, Germany and Italy affirm that the above agreement affects in no way the political status existing at present between each of the three Contracting Powers and Soviet Russia.

ARTICLE 6. The present pact shall become valid immediately upon signature and shall remain in force ten years from the date on which it becomes effective. In due time, before the expiration of said term, the High Contracting Parties shall, at the request of any one of them, enter into negotiations for its renewal.

In faith whereof, the undersigned duly authorized by their respective governments have signed this pact and have affixed hereto their signatures.

Done in triplicate at Berlin, the 27th day of September, 1940, in the 19th year of the fascist era, corresponding to the 27th day of the ninth month of the 15th year of Showa (the reign of Emperor Hirohito).

Read through the source below.

What does Ienaga suggest about the issues facing Japan in its war with China?

An extract from Saburo Ienaga, The Pacific War, 1968.

The army had prepared carefully for war against the Soviet Union, but had done no planning worthy of the name for a general war with China.  Army leaders could not conceive of the Chinese putting up a good fight… How could China be brought to its knees?  That was the major problem.  Unable to get a negotiated settlement on favourable terms or win a final military success, Japanese leaders sought victory by expanding the conflict. 

What factors, according to this extract from a modern textbook, led to Japan deciding on a military attack against the US?

In July 1941 Japan occupied Indo China in spite of US warnings. The US response was swift and an embargo on the supply of oil, lubricants and high grade metal to Japan was imposed. Japan's assets in the USA were frozen. This was now a serious economic war. For Japan it meant that she had two years' supplies in store - she would then face exhaustion and collapse. Japan would either have to concede to US conditions for a resumption of trade, or she would have to extend her imperialism to find alternative supply sources. The Japanese government now believed that the Western powers were attempting to encircle Japan and destroy its 'rightful' place in the world.

There followed negotiations and a diplomatic mission to the USA. However, agreement stalled over the fact that the USA now also insisted that Japan withdraw from China; this of course would be unacceptable to the Japanese military and the Japanese people. In order to get the resources they needed, the Japanese decided that a war of conquest was necessary.