Why did the Japanese attack the United States in December 1941? After all, the Japanese military and leadership were not unaware of the power of the United States. The question is quite complicated, I broke it up in a set of factors, which I called: The Quest for Self-Sufficiency, Structural Problems, Psychological Factors and Timing. Cover design by vonKickass. Cover design idea by Uzelott. »» SUPPORT MHV «« » patreon, see videos early (adfree) - https://www.patreon.com/join/mhv » subscribe star - https://www.subscribestar.com/mhv » paypal donation - https://paypal.me/mhvis »» MERCHANDISE «« » teespring - https://teespring.com/stores/military-history-visualized »» TIMESTAMPS RELATED CONTENT «« 00:12 – Why Japan had no Chance - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ag2x3CS9M 03:25 – Why France fell in 6 Weeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI29hh5qBug 04:01 – Appeasement in 1938 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ2-ypT6ewQ 04:44 – Why German Victories Weakened the Japanese – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oUEHHhuEoc 05:17 – Operation Weserübung – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHJqtI3AzkQ 09:35 – Why the Japanese Military wanted to fighter after the 2nd Nuke – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kII5dUXKg 14:12 – Wikipedia not a source!? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tz720XU2Mw 14:40 – Attack on Pearl Harbor – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTZmW3qz3Js 19:41 – What did the Japanese think of the Germans in WW2? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCmNpToDBHA » SOURCES « Frank, Richard B.: Tower of Skulls. A History of the Asia-Pacific War. July 1937-May 1942. W. W. Norton & Company: New York, USA, 2020. Barnhart, Michael A.: Japan prepares for Total War. The Search for Economic Security, 1919-1941. Cornell University Press: Ithaca, US, 1987. Drea, Edward J.: Japan’s Imperial Army. Its Rise and Fall, 1853-1945. Kansas University Press, USA: 2009. Millet, Allan R.; Murray, Williamson: Military Effectiveness. Volume 3: The