We had our perceptions about them, they about us. After a bit things readjusted to reality, more so for the Japs. After it sunk in as to what they were really dealing with plans commenced being made as to how to get out of it without losing their asses completely. Yeah, we shocked them and good.
We had a lot of misconceptions about the Japanese that were deadly for us. I will say that the Pacific war was a race war ON BOTH SIDES. both sides had contempt for the other, and reacted accordingly.