Imperial Expansion: Japan sought to expand its territory and influence in the Asia-Pacific region. The attack on Pearl Harbor was seen as a way to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which was perceived as a threat to Japan's ambitions.
Economic Control: Japan aimed to secure access to natural resources, particularly oil, which were essential for its economic growth and military expansion. The attack on Pearl Harbor was intended to weaken the U.S. ability to intervene in Japan's resource acquisitions in Southeast Asia.
Military Strategy: The Japanese believed that a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor would cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet and significantly delay America's entry into the ongoing conflict in the Pacific. This strategy was based on the assumption that the U.S. would take a considerable amount of time to recover and rebuild its naval power.
Influence in Asia: The attack on Pearl Harbor aimed to further solidify Japan's dominance and influence in Asia. It was intended to send a clear message to other nations in the region that Japan was the preeminent power and that resistance to its ambitions would be met with decisive action.
Provocation: Some historians also suggest that the attack on Pearl Harbor was partly a response to the U.S. economic sanctions and other diplomatic pressures that were imposed on Japan in response to its aggressive actions in the Asia-Pacific region. These pressures had strained relations between the two countries and may have contributed to Japan's decision to launch the attack.