Why did japan attack pearl harbor?

Question

were we fighting in europe before japan attack or did they attack us first

Answer 1

Arrogance.

Answer 2

People have danced around the answer (except for USA Lady) and failed to really tell you, though many do know.

Imperialism:  Both the USA and Japan were expanding empires in the Pacific.  Japan felt it was their right to have control of Asia.  The US felt like natural expansion westward, they had already gone to California, and now they were moving across the Pacific.

Militarism:  Even during WW1 (when th USA and Japan fought on the same side) the two countries eyed each other as potential rivals.  Both designed larger, stronger battleships during this time (Japan even started what was called the 8-8 program, 8 battleships, 8 battle-cruiser completed over the course of 8 years when it would start over again without scrapping the existing ships).  After the Washington treaty the two navies competed with cruisers and carriers.

Japan felt most threatened by the US Navy, it's what they feared.  By striking a blow against the main threat against them they could form a defensive perimeter around Japan.  This perimeter would be heavily fortified.  They hoped that the US would exhaust themselves before suing for peace allowing Japan to keep it's conquests.

Answer 3

Edmond's answer was very good, but I believe it was because the Japanese believed U.S. involvement in the war was inevitable, and the obvious strategy was a preemptive strike against the biggest (at the time) U.S. Naval station for the Pacific Fleet.

Answer 4

Oil, of course

Answer 5

Russo-Japan war then Japanese expansion in China then conflict with USA interests (trade, human rights) then USA economic sanctions against Japan (oil embargo)

Japanese economy was in danger of collapse - military coup in Japanese government leaves pro-war group in control - decision is made to secure natural resources through military force - which required the elimination of the USA Pacific fleet