The Japanese perspective on World War II centered around controlling China and eradicating communism. Despite knowing they weren't ready for war, Japan went to battle against China and Russia and joined the Axis powers in an attempt to gain autarky and control over China's resources.
The Japanese wanted a quick victory in China to free up their resources but found that their efforts were being undermined by other nations who were secretly supplying the Chinese with resources. Ultimately, the Japanese decided to try to exit China while leaving puppet governments in place to maintain control.
In 1939, the Japanese army attempted to invade the Soviet Union in Manchuria but encountered severe casualties. This blunted the enthusiasm for a crusade against the Soviet Union and turned Japanese focus towards other directions, marking the beginning of the North-South debate in Japanese politics.
The Japanese saw the war in China as an anti-communist cause and an attempt to gain control of China's resources. However, this was a sticking point for the Western powers who would not allow Japan to control China's resources.
The Tripartite Pact, signed in September 1940, created the Axis Powers alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan, emphasizing self-sufficiency. The Japanese joining the pact, and their misreading of the United States' reaction to it, would lead to tragedy for everyone in Asia.