The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a calculated risk to neutralize American naval power in WWII.
In the Japanese perspective on Pearl Harbor, the attack was a calculated risk taken by the Japanese military to neutralize American naval power and buy time for their empire's expansion in Asia. The surprise attack on December 7, 1941, resulted in the deaths of over 2,400 American servicemen, mainly military personnel, and significantly damaged the US Pacific Fleet.
Japanese military planners aimed to cripple American naval power by targeting battleships and aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor, hoping to create a strategic advantage for Japan. Despite the devastation caused by the attack, the US aircraft carriers were crucially spared, leading to the eventual US declaration of war against Japan, Germany, and Italy.