War of the Rising Sun: Why Japan Attacked the United States

In 1945, Nagasaki and Hiroshima were reduced to rubble, effectively putting an end to World War II as we know it. The mass destruction caused by the two atomic bombs were dropped by B-29s deployed by the United States. Thanks to these two bomb attacks, over 200,000 Japanese people perished. But, why? The answer lies four years prior when Japan decided to declare war on the United States via their infamous attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The proverbial rabbit hole continues deeper though because Japan didn’t just randomly decide one day that they would attack the
United States.

Before World War II, the relations between the United States and Japan were already strained. Japan was very dependent upon imports for their resources. The Roosevelt Administration decided to terminate the United States’ commercial treaty with Japan, leaving the leader of the Asian continent to fend for themselves. By 1940, Japan had to ask the United States on a case-by-case basis to import goods. In layman’s terms, the United States had placed an embargo upon Japan. Later that year, the United States had further prohibited trade to Japan by forcing them to acquire licenses for aircraft engines and other strategic materials. This effectively forced Japan to search elsewhere for their resources. Southeast Asia had the resources Japan required. With the United States stationed in the Philippines, Japan constantly had their nemesis watching their moves. In fact, in 1941, Sir Robert Craigie, the British ambassador to Tokyo, insisted to London that Japan would soon move against British-held Singapore. The tides of war had already begun.

With many embargoes weighing down Japan’s trade, they saw no other way than to declare war upon the United States since the US had basically tightened an economic noose around Japan’s throat. With this in mind, we must also realize that Japan up until then was a society built on war. For hundreds of years, the tradition of war had driven Japan’s thriving country. Defeat wasn’t an option for Japan so, naturally, when they had their backs against the wall, the only option in their minds was war. For the ultimate proof of this, one need only look to the end of World War II. After the first atomic bomb was dropped, Japan still hadn’t surrendered. It took a second atomic bomb before Japan finally surrendered to the United States, ending World War II in favor of the Allied forces. Afterward, a once proud nation laid in desolate ruins.

Were the atomic bombs necessary? Perhaps yes, but maybe not. But, it was a catalyst of sorts to put an end to a very long, very costly war. Regardless, Japan went to war for one reason: to fight the arrogance of the United States and their own dependency on them. Japan saw themselves as a people with their backs against the wall.