From Meiji period until 1930s → Japan had used its education system + media → to encourage + develop strong sense of nationalist price amongst its people.
in addition to being pro-Japanese → ultranationalism → involved a wariness towards foreigners - especially colonial powers.
Japanese → saw Britain, Russia, US → as rivals → and obstacles to achieving their ambitions.
- in their view → US had abandoned them → with its economic policies against Japan in the 1930s → leaving thousands of Japanese workers in unemployment when it stopped importing goods from Japan.
USSR → seen as big threat
- communism teaches → that societies should not be run by emperor / king → but by people.
For Japanese → who believed in loyalty to Emperor → communism was dangerous ideology that had to be combated.
USSRs border → with Japans empire → in Manchuria → was major cause for concern. 1936 → Japan signed anti-comintern pact → with Italy and Nazi Germany → agreeing to oppose communism.
- this was another powerful reason → for Japan to control territories in Asia → to hold back USSR and to gain resources → it would need if it ever warred against USSR.
The relationship between Japan and Britain → more complex.
- Early 1900s → they had cooperated under Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902 - 1923) → prevent the USSR → from advancing in far east.
- 1930s → relationship between 2 countries worsened
- Britain criticised → Japan → over invasion of Manchuria → and was on friendly terms with US.
- Since Britain had colonies throughout Asia → including Hong Kong + Malaya ⇒ Japan viewed it as rival power