How Did Yamamoto's Decision To Attack Pearl Harbor

The decision made by Japan to attack Pearl Harbor in 1941 was the result of a gradual process that developed over time. By July of that year, Japan had already embarked on the conquest of Southeast Asia, despite the well-known risks of going to war with the United States. The Japanese elite, who were concerned about their country's economic situation and military expansion, decided that the United States must either remove the sanctions and embargoes imposed against them, or they would have "no choice" but to declare war. The decision to go to war was arrived at through a collective effort. Despite the postponement of negotiations with the United States, this decision was reinforced over time, and the Japanese military became increasingly convinced
This made the plan more permanent and difficult to oppose, as it would have required significant changes to the military's existing infrastructure and technology. As Barnhart states, “Adm. Yamamoto Isoroku has received the attention due him as the champion of the decision to undertake that risky operation. But Yamamoto did not move in a vacuum. Time and again, his attempts to have the Imperial Navy adopt the Pearl Harbor attack plan were thwarted by a group of leading officers in the Naval General Staff. These men did not oppose Yamamoto out of stupidity or spite, but had strong and compelling reasons for resisting his proposals. Many of those reasons stemmed from the wider story of politics within the Japanese Navy and, no less importantly, from the strained relations between that service and the Imperial Army.” (Pg. 246) Japan's desperation for resources and expansion towards the south was a crucial factor that led to the United States perceiving them as a threat. However, Japan could have avoided the sanctions and embargoes if they had taken a different