1853
A U.S. naval squadron commanded by Commodore Matthew Perry coerces the Japanese, much against their will, to begin trading with Western nations, initiating Japan's longstanding resentment of the West.

1868
Japan, a feudal society, begins an incredible transformation that turns it into a major industrial/military power almost overnight.

1904–1905
Testing its new power, Japan fights and defeats Russia.

1922

In an international treaty, the United States and its allies further anger Japan by limiting the number of large warships it can build.

1931
As part of a growing effort to build an empire in the Far East, Japan invades the Chinese province of Manchuria.

1941 January 7: Admiral Isoroku Yamamato writes to Japan's war minister, advocating a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.

November 26: The U.S. State Department sends a tenpart message to the Japanese government urging a peaceful...