Where I am unclear on with Japan was how they got from fighting Russia to the War Stance that lead them to thinking attacking China etc was a forward position. I am rusty on Japanese history - I appreciate any insight you have as my normal method is to read & research then verify first hand. I don’t have a ton of direct Japanese resources in that regard.

Regarding the US / Europe setting the stage to trigger Japan - %100 true.

FDR asked one of the lead political analyst, McCollum, in Washington DC to create an “itinerary to make Japan increasingly hostile”. The result was the McCollum memo which outlined at a point 8 specific things that if done would lead Japan to a war stance. FDR made sure they were all done in that exact order. McCollum later regretted providing FDR with that information. We also know Japan did absolutely say they were coming and the surprise attack thing was only a matter of Japan never explicitly saying where they would attack. DC pushed the story that it was without honor and they were never informed. In truth Japan warned of their impending attack to the US-Japanese Ambassador in DC. It was hushed by FDR and later claimed to have been “lost in the cables”.

Where I am unclear on with Japan was how they got from fighting Russia to the War Stance that lead them to thinking attacking China etc was a forward position.

Regarding the US / Europe setting the stage to trigger Japan - %100 true.

FDR asked one of the lead political analyst, McCollum, in Washington DC to create an “itinerary to make Japan increasingly hostile”. The result was the McCollum memo which outlined at a point 8 specific things that if done would lead Japan to a war stance. FDR made sure they were all done in that exact order. McCollum later regretted providing FDR with that information. We also know Japan did absolutely say they were coming and the surprise attack thing was only a matter of Japan never explicitly saying where they would attack. DC pushed the story that it was without honor and they were never informed. In truth Japan warned of their impending attack to the US-Japanese Ambassador in DC. It was hushed by FDR and later claimed to have been “lost in the cables”.