Reasons given for the 1941-1945 war with Japan: Contrasting interpretations

Alternative interpretations of events leading to war with Japan in 1941 were evaluated. The standard version of the events was preferred by 31 of the 90 subjects who were enlisted to participate in the study by 20 students. The version of the events describing this story within the framework of the influence of Western colonization on the cultures of the countries of the Far East was endorsed by 50 subjects. Of the 90 subjects 9 were undecided. The major underlying issues were described based on content analysis of these subjects' responses.