There are numerous reasons why Japan attacked allied countries during World War 2, one of which to increase their empire. Japan was eager to be seen as a greater power in international relationships within allied countries and to secure their resources in Southeast Asia and China. To be able to accomplish these aims Japan saw that attacking allied countries would do so.
During the 1930’s, before WW2 had begun, the Japanese empire consisted of Korea, the southern half of Sakhalin Island, Kurile Islands (now part of Russia) and Taiwan. The empire was rapidly industrializing and militarizing and was under the slogan “Enrich the country, Strengthen the army”. Japan and its empire was then led to their demands of world power therefore Japan seized every opportunity to show complete dominance to the world by attacking countries that were a threat to their growing empire.
December 7th, 1941, Japan surprise attacked Pearl Harbour, the American naval base. According to Wikipedea (Attack of Pearl Harbour- last modified 28th March 2014) 3 destroyers, 3 cruisers and an anti-aircraft training ship were damaged or sunk as well as 2402 people killed and 1282 injured. Before the attack Japan’s populations was increasing and the empire was no longer self sufficient in food (according to “Japan’s Economic Expansion into Manchuria and China in World War Two”- May 2004), land, oil and rubber. Japan believed that self sufficiency in resources was essential to fight a total war so by expanding their empire into Manchuria and China they would have a wider range of resources and more resources as well. Japans ideas and actions towards the expansion wasn’t pleasing and didn’t sit right with America so they stepped in and cut Japan off from all resources from Manchuria and China. Japan felt threatened by America as they were being starved from resources. To re-secure Manchuria and China’s resources