Who decided to bomb Pearl Harbor?

Answer 1

The Japanese were led by General Hideki Tojo who had been the Prime Minister of the Japanese government. He was an imperialist with designs on expanding the Japanese empire. The United States sought to stop the expansion of their empire and, along with Britain, stood in the way of the Japanese advance in the Pacific. With the approval of the Chief of the Imperial Naval General Staff Admiral Nagano Osami, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, then Commander in Chief of the Combined Fleet, was tasked with formulating a plan of action against the Americans. By attacking the US Navy at Pearl Harbor it was hoped that the resistance of the Americans would be neutralized to prevent the US from contesting the expansion of Japanese empire. Without the fleet, the US would be unable to resist their military forces. However, they did not expect the US fleet to be repaired and made seaworthy as soon as it was. They thought it would be years at the earliest that America could replace the sunken vessels. They did not count on the US manufacturing capacities and the will of the American people to rise up and combat them. Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo was selected to lead the actual attack on Pearl Harbor.

Answer 2

The decision to bomb Pearl Harbor was made by the Japanese government and military leaders, including Emperor Hirohito, Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, and Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. They saw it as a necessary military action to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet and prevent American intervention in Japan's planned expansion in Southeast Asia.