why did japan attack pearl harbor

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor primarily due to its lack of natural resources, especially oil, which were vital for its military and industrial activities. The U.S. and other Western powers had imposed economic sanctions and an oil embargo on Japan in response to its aggressive expansion in Asia, particularly in China and Indochina. These sanctions threatened Japan's economy and military capabilities. Japan sought to secure access to resources in Southeast Asia and aimed to create the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, a bloc free from Western influence. The attack on Pearl Harbor was intended as a strategic pre-emptive strike to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which Japan saw as a major obstacle to its expansionist ambitions. Japanese leaders hoped that a decisive blow would demoralize the U.S. and force it to negotiate, giving Japan the time to consolidate its gains in Asia and the Pacific. Diplomatic negotiations had broken down, and Japan felt cornered by U.S. demands, viewing war as inevitable and a necessary gamble to secure its imperial ambitions and sovereignty.