Why did Japan side with the Nazis during WWII?

Question

What made Japan decide to attack the United States?

Answer 1

Japan decided to side with Germany and Italy during WW2 because the leaders of the time felt Germany and Italy were more sympathetic to their cause as it mirrored Germany's own.

Why did Japan decide to attack the US at Pearl harbor, many will say because the US gave Japan no choose, they are wrong, and trying to rewrite history to place more blame on the US where none should be placed. Fact is the US actually was trying diplomacy against Japan for their attacks on China, see Rape of Nan-king! Britain was already too weak to do anything in the Pacific, Russia didn't care, and France wasn't able to do anything as well. most European powers were too focused on preventing another war in Europe to worry about the Pacific.

The US tried to put economic pressure on Japan but too many leaders in Japan could not accept leaving China after the losses that had occurred. They felt that if they did leave China the public would be outraged and overthrow the government.

This is but a very simplistic anwer, which can be entire books about just this question, not even including the actual attack on Pearl Harbor.

Answer 2

The US ditched previous trade agreements with Japan, then slapped on a trade embargo leaving Japan without Oil and Steel needed for its war effort. It was obvious they weren't going to be allies, Japan needed to act or eventually would run out of fuel. So Japan basic strategy was they were headed down that path anyway, they took a strategic early first strike.

I believe the thing in common between Japan and the Nazis was relations with the Soviet Union. Both considered the Soviets a threat.

Edit: It was the US influence that nudged Japan and Germany together. The US threat was leaning toward UK support in Europe and against Japan in the Pacific. The pact was to be a deterrent against the US joining and to maintain neutral status as if it joined it would have a 2 front war.

Answer 3

Japan allied with Germany as a needed counterweight to the European Colonial powers, the USSR and the United States. She attacked the US because she felt her situation was such that not attacking would lead to an irreversible decline in her position, strength and prestige and ultimately a surrender to the demands of the US. Japan thought it was now or never and rolled the dice.

Answer 4

First of all you have the question backwards Japan was not a superpower compared to germany and need support in europe in order to successfully cary out a war in the pacific (thus the majority of the european armies that would challnege thenm would be stuck up defending themselves against nazi invasion and for the nazis the european and american power(s) would have to send troops to deal with the imperialist japenese) another sidenote JAPAN COMMITED MORE CRIMES THAN NAZI GERMANY they were no innocent naieve people who happened to side with the evil german they had death camps and murdered millions of chinese

Answer 5

Regarding Japan and Germany, study Tripartite Pact and the era at the moment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_Pact

As for attacking the Pearl Harbor, don't forget to study Hull note. This is historical document.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hull_note
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor#Breaking_off_negotiations

Answer 6

who's better~?