They seized much of it. Oil and other raw materials were abundant.
See: Asia Times (March 30, 2002); Japan's Bank Crisis, by Richard Hanson.
I have heard Japan wanted to imperialise South Asia!
Japan wanted to get control of all Asia.
Germany wanted to to expand in Europe. Italy wanted to expand in Africa. Japan wanted to expand in Asia & the Pacific.
Japan wanted to be in control of almost all of East Asia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. They pursued this effort under the guise of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.
Japenese wanted to take over both Asia and Australia, i am reseaching now why they wanted to take over Asia but they wanted Australia because of all our oil.
The Japanese government, and the Japanese military.
Toykyo hoped eventually to seize Soviet Siberia, rich in resources and to create a new "Monroe Doctrine for Asia. Japan would guide its Asian neighbors on the path to development and prosperity.
Japan is in the continent of Asia. Asia is located in the northeast hemisphere.
Japan wanted to gain resources for themselves. They only had a limited amount and tried to counquer asia and the philipenes for the resources.
Japan is in Asia.
The Japanese called it a "sphere of influence". They wanted to totally dominate Asia and the Pacific Islands.