How was the attack on Pearl Harbor a strategic error for the Japanese?

Answer 1

AnswerThere are a couple of reasons, first is that it gave the US a rallying cry, very similar to "remember the Alamo". In addition it gave FDR all the reasons he needed to finally get the US into the war. Adm. Yamamoto told the Imperial High Command that if he attacked the US, he might have 6 months to a year before the economic power of the US brought the Japanese to heel. They decided to ignore him. The next thing that the Japanese should have done was to follow up the attack with an invasion. But they decided not to. This left the Pearl facilities in the hands of the US and the US rebuilt these facilities and raised and repaired most of the damaged ships. Plus the delay in the Japanese delegation translating the message and delivering it to the White House meant that it was a surprise attack instead of the attack going in moments after the message was delivered. All of this brought the US into the Pacific conflict and led to the downfall of the Japanese Empire. AnswerThat people mostly ignorant, don't want to accept that Pearl Harbor was the most ashaming attack the U.S , that people also disguise like historians or war veterans and start saying lies and stupid arguments elsewhere in the forums defending blindly the U.S Army.

The use of Aircraft Carriers showed the Whole World the importance of Aerial attacks agains Battleships and land installations, Americans used that better that Japanesse(in late years), but that don't means that the Pearl Harbor attack was a failure that only shows that the Japanesse High command where not enought competent to use it more constantly in future Battles or Campaigns.

Answer 2

Tactical is the small picture; Strategical is the big picture. Each major axis leader made the same strategic mistake:

1. Germany attacked Russia (USSR); a nation that had far more people and industrial might than Germany would ever have.

2. Japan attacked America (US); a nation that had far more people and industrial might than Japan would ever have.

Japan's tactical victory was sinking many US warships & destroying many US warplanes; at little loss to themselves. The strategic blunder (not political...political is talking and shaking hands...making deals, diplomacy...etc.) was bringing the US into the war...making WWII a truly global conflict; and ultimately bringing an end to the Japanese Empire.