Final answer:
Japan underestimated American resolve and industrial capacity, failing to destroy key targets like aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor and not attacking oil storage, which led to a swift U.S. mobilization and retaliation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Japan's strategy during World War II involved a surprise attack on the United States, believing it would hinder U.S. intervention in Japan's conquest of Southeast Asia. However, Japan failed to make their attack more effective by underestimating American resolve and industrial capacity, leading to missteps in their tactical planning.
Primarily, they did not destroy the vital American aircraft carriers, which were not present at Pearl Harbor during the attack, and they failed to target the harbor's oil storage facilities, which would have crippled the U.S. Pacific Fleet's operational capabilities.