Honestly? The Japanese believed that the US wouldn't declare war and any conflict would only last a few months, 6 months at the most. The Japanese actually believed that the US would not engage in a full out general war because of the isolationist movement that was currently sweeping the US at the time.
Just like we didn't think Japan would go to war over the oil embargo we placed, the Japanese made the same miscalculation about us going to war to defend our territory and avenge Pearl Harbor.
ack-ack
Kind of like 'poking the sleeping giant with a big stick'.
Interesting find for sure!
On a side note: the smart thing the US did to Japan when they surrendered was tell their Army, Air Force, and Navy to show up for work the next day and continue to receive pay cheques and the same for all government workers (police forces, fire fighters, city workers, teachers etc). Same thing in Germany.
Considering how fanatical the IJN/IJA were towards their emperor, it prevented the country from going into squalor.
