When Stuff Got Serious
Japan initiated wars with China in 1931 and in 1937 as a resumption of a pattern of imperial expansion. In 1932, the first comfort station was established in Shanghai, China. It was the beginning of a tragedy. After the Nanjing Massacre in 1937, the comfort women system was put into motion.
The Japanese navy began calling for the occupation of the Dutch East Indies in April 1940. Japan allied itself with Germany in September 1940, and during that month the Vichy French government caved and gave Japan northern Indo-China. There were some other issues with allied powers including the French and British but it appeared that Japan planned for Pearl Harbor to be its first major act of war.
The Japanese navy began calling for the occupation of the Dutch East Indies in April 1940. Japan allied itself with Germany in September 1940, and during that month the Vichy French government caved and gave Japan northern Indo-China. There were some other issues with allied powers including the French and British but it appeared that Japan planned for Pearl Harbor to be its first major act of war.