This transcript analyses the reasons behind Japan's willingness to go to war despite the potential costs, stating that it was their immense patriotic spirit that drove them to fight for self-defense and secure resources for their growing population.
The podcast delves into the Japanese people's unwavering patriotism that made them support the war effort even in a hopeless situation, as described in a New York Times article by Otto Tolischus.
Despite their war weariness, the Japanese people are convinced of the righteousness of their country's cause and are willing to fight to defend it, even though they know that war will cost them greatly in terms of blood and treasure.
In an attempt to prevent war, the Japanese Prime Minister proposed an agreement with Roosevelt, which eventually led to the Atlantic Charter. However, the high-minded western democratic ideals outlined in the charter seemed directed squarely at Japan, leading to questions of hypocrisy by other Asian countries.