• As a small island nation, Japan had little to no natural resources. They were in desperate need of raw materials such as oil, coal, and other items. Neighboring islands owned by Great Britain and the Netherlands had these commodities in abundance. Japan saw it necessary to expand its borders to include these nations.

• In addition to direly needing resources, Japan also lacked the space needed for their multiplying population. They needed to expand, and this was one of their main reasons for the conquering of their neighbors.  Already people were packed onto the tiny island like sardines. Imagine if you had to share one square mile with 2,900 people!

• As a result of the Great Depression which ravaged nations worldwide, Japan also had a very instable economy. This made it harder to humanely obtain the goods which they depended on, so the Japan government turned to the use of force and usurption.

Not only was Japan wrestling with economic turmoil, the political state of Japan during the years leading up to the War was filled with unrest among their people, violence from the government, and hostility in their foreign relations. Especially, with the United States...

• In 1931, the Japanese military suddenly invaded Manchuria, apart of northern China, and took over. Ever so slowly, Japanese began to creep over the border and cause trouble in China. The Chinese were distracted with their own civil war, and didn't realize the reality of the Japanese advances. By the time they formed a united front, their large but poorly equipped army was no match for the Japanese.

• After Japan formally declared war on China, the United States assisted China with guns, ammunition, and other war supplies during the long conflict known as the Sino-Japanese War. It lasted from 1937 until 1945.

• The best known event from this little-known war is the "Rape of Nanking", or the looting, raping, and killing of Chinese civilians in and around Nanking. Although famous, it was only one of the widespread atrocities commited by the Japanese toward the Chinese people during that time.