He goes into all that. The Japanese were VERY reluctant to fight the USA. And in months leading up to the war, they had gotten their noses punched hard by the Soviet's elite Far Eastern corps. They did not want to fight both.
They had a spy working in the Soviet embassy who told them that Stalin had pulled these troops to fight the Germans in October of 1941.
This led to Hirohito's war cabinet to agree to attack Pearl Harbor. Up until that time, it might never have happened. Japan only had 6 months of oil left for their fleet.
"East Wind, Rain" was one of three possible "execute" messages which Japanese diplomats around the world had been alerted to begin listening for on November 19th. They were told to monitor the regular news and weather broadcasts from Tokyo, just as they always did, but to pay especially careful attention to the phraseology employed to describe the weather."East wind, Rain" went out on November 20th, 1941.If they heard the words "North Wind, Cloudy," it meant war with the Soviet Union.
If they heard the words "West Wind, Clear," it meant war with the British Empire.
And if they heard the words "East Wind, Rain," it meant war with the United States.
It was very much a last minute decision.
Also, read here:
http://www.patriot.dk/pearlharbour.html
I got the previous quote from Kevin Strom’s article, East Wind, Rain: Treason at Pearl Harbor. Almost exact quote from Tolland’s book, though.
what I read is that someone - TOJO? made a decision to attack Pearl Harbor. But the discussions were also about haw much of an OVERREACH the Japs did with Pearl Harbor.
As for Oil they were in control of or could have been of the Philippines, and Bruani had all the Oil that they needed.
A good example of Upper management decision making. At these levels the hubris is overwhelming - Macron, Former CEO of Exxon, Nobama, the list is long
On China - They are working two issues with Russia - One is Oil/Gas trade deal. The other, much more ominous - China is volunteering to FARM some of the less desirable Russian far east - And this is the way of accruing Land through settlement by your people. - The Russians see this as a real threat.