Japanese Dreams of Empire The Japanese began their efforts to establish a Greater East Asia Coprosperity Sphere as early as 1931. Seizing a minor pretext, they then overran Manchuria and, in 1932, established it as a puppet state under the name of Manchukuo. Incursions into China proper followed. These were initially successful, but eventually the [...]

Japanese War Plan As the time for war approached, the military hierarchy dominated Japan economically and politically as well as militarily. The basic war plan of Imperial General Headquarters was divided into three phases. Phase 1 included neutralization of the United States Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, seizure of the Southern Regions, and establishment of [...]