Many factors, economic , nationalist and domestic contributed to the expansion.
Explanation:
There were many materials that were important for Japan that were not available in Japanese sphere of influence.
<u>Oil and rubber had to be traded from British Malaya and other neighboring countries</u> controlled by <u>European powers trying to limit Japan's expansion on the world stage.</u>
<u>Increasing nationalist sentiment and racism</u> pushed the country into conquering its neighbors for pride and profits and to expand its sphere of influence.
It was a form of a monopoly.
During WWII, people were skeptical of spies among them, so the government took Japanese Americans to internment camps against their will (it was a terribly cruel and unjust practice but they were deemed legal in the Korematsu vs. US Supreme Court case) :)
<span>It can only be reached by plane or boat.</span>
