Actually, one of the crewmen of the mini-sub became the first Japanese prisoner of war.
Japanese naval theory still held that the battleship was the main threat-—and the only reason why they had aircraft carriers was the Washington treaty put a limit on how many the United States and Japan could build. Many of the Japanese aircraft carriers used in the attack—along with the Saratoga and Lexington were built on battleship hulls. Hence, the massive concentration of the PH attack.
The Japanese missed the carrier Enterprise by mere hours—some of the Big’s E scout planes arrived over Pearl during the attack and helped defend it. Other planes arrived from the Enterprise hours later and were shot down by American gunnners thinking that it was a third wave of the Japanese attacks.
The Japanese never thought that the Americans would fight World War II. They thought that they could seize as much as they could and sue for peace. Remember the Americans just lost an entire generation of men fighting World War I, which was nothing more than a family fued among the kings and queens of Europe.
Yamamoto was very concerned about starting a war with America. He didn’t say the “sleeping giant” quote attributed to him, but he did say that he would go along with the attack because his Emporer commanded it.
The Japanese were actually suppose to declare war on the United States before the attack began, but problems with the communications cables delayed them from formally telling the Sec. of State about their intentions. By the time that they were ready, the Sec of State found out the news (remember Hawaii is five or six hours ahead of Washington D.C.)
The Declaration of War on December 8 passed both houses with near unamious support. The only one who didn’t vote for war was Jeanette Rankin, US-representative from Utah, a Republican. She also voted against World War I. She was a pacifist.
Hawaii is five or six hours ahead behind Washington D.C.