Japan flag

Japan's Involvement in World War II

  • Japan invades China

    Japan invades China
    This begins the war in the Pacific
  • Japan invades French Indochina (Vietnam)

    Japan invades French Indochina (Vietnam)
  • Japan joins Axis Powers with Germany and Italy

    Japan joins Axis Powers with Germany and Italy
  • United States freezes Japan's assets

    United States freezes Japan's assets
    As a result, Japan loses access 3/4 of its overseas trade and 88% of its imported oil
  • Japan bombs Pearl Harbor

    Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
  • Japan declares war on US and british Empire

    Japan declares war on US and british Empire
  • Battle of Midway

    Battle of Midway
    This was the turning point in the Pacific portion of the war. From this point on, Allied forces won back territories occupied by Japan.
  • Battle of Okinawa

    Battle of Okinawa
  • US drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima

    US drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima
  • Soviet War enters war against Japan

    Soviet War enters war against Japan
    More than 1 million Soviet soldiers were poured into Japanese-occupied Manchuria, (northeastern China) to take on the 700,000-strong Japanese army.
  • US drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki

    US drops atomic bomb on Nagasaki
  • Emporor Showa surrenders unconditionally

    Emporor Showa surrenders unconditionally