[Eric in the Ozarks]

Tell that to the survivors of Japan’s rape and pillage in China.

[massgopguy]

and the Philippines and Burma and Korea....

[AmericanInTokyo]

Japan will go independent of the United States.

As the second largest economic power in the world, it shall be their course to politely part ways with the Americans and have the US remove its troops. They then, like a "normal nation" will go about engaing in the work to be completely responsible for their own defense.

Since they respect power, they will embark on this course when they see less and less power by the United States in Asia, they see an ascendent China, and they will decide for themselves at the end of the day they are not a vassal state of the USA, and hence will rearm to the fullest.

It will surprise a lot of people.

But it is coming.

Five it five years.

[billbears]

contending he reluctantly took Japan to war after a U.S. oil embargo threatened the country's survival.

There's more than a bit of truth to that. Yes there were evils in Japan but Japan was not committing crimes or attacking citizens of the respective states. Unless China was annexed as part of the US without anyone saying anything.