They weren't rasta.

Source: Unisoft.

Early Japan closed its ports and became reclusive, shunning the outside world.
The US Navy rolled in and told them to open their ports to trade or be bombed.
We bombed them. (pre-WW2)
Japan turned into Industrial power house then used same tactics we taught them on others.

They had a culture different enough that going full scorched earth on them felt natural, really. Plus humans seek to conquer and possess more so it may have been the natural course of action when Japan was in one of it's lowest lows.

Abolishing the shogunate and forming a restoration of imperial power called the Meiji Restoration, led to consolidation of power and westernized ambitions. What was once a mandate of serene isolation transformed into desire for imperial power and expansion. Like Agenda said above, western influence played a large role.


The Qing dynasty was weak, post opium war, and was seen an easy rival to poke. The bitterness grew between both nations even more after Nanking and the Sino Japanese war. Treaties gave Japan Manchuria, Shandong, Pescadores, Taiwan, and all types of railways and factories created by the Japanese in Chinese territory.

That's all pre ww2 as you said.


Edited to correct my historical timeline.