There were few factors that motivated the Japanese to start extending their power and territory out of their borders. Some of the most important factors were:
- Strong military
Japan modernized its military, had good and modern equipment and good training. That made their army superior in the region.
- Weak opposition
The nations on which Japan has set its sights on were either very weak, or had internal problems and were not unified nations.
- Natural resources
Japan is a nation that desperately lacks in natural resources. In order to be able to develop further and set its foundations for the future, Japan started occupying areas that were rich in natural resources.