What did Admiral Yamamoto think about America?

Answer 1

Admiral Yamamoto, the author of the plan to attack Pearl Harbor and destroy the United States Pacific Fleet, was reluctant to engage in open hostilities with the United States. In 1939 he was asked by Prime Minister Konoe what he thought of Japan's chances in a naval war with the United States. He responded, "We can run wild for 6 months or a year, but after that I have utterly no confidence. I hope you will try to avoid war with America." His prediction proved accurate.

Answer 2

There were two reasons. First, the Japanese planned to attack the Netherland Indies in the south to secure its oil, following the American, British and Dutch embargoes of oil to Japan. To do so Yamamoto reasoned he had to protect the easterly side of the shipping lanes from American attacks from the Pearl Harbor based fleet. Second, Yamamoto clearly understood that the U S industrial capacity would overwhelm Japan in a long war. Yamamoto hoped that destroying the U S Fleet in Pearl Harbor would strike a blow to American morale that would lead to a quick agreement to end hostilities and allow Japan to keep its gains. Virtually all Japanese Navy officers argued against the strike against Pearl Harbor. Yamamoto had to threaten to resign as Commander in Chief of the Combined Fleet in order to secure agreement to his plan. Although Yamamoto had offered to lead the attack personally, he was aboard his flagship near Tokyo when the attack took place.

Answer 3

Yamamoto had studied and traveled around the United States. He knew the size of America and what the people were able to do. He was a very good Poker player and knew just how far Americans could be pushed. The people in power above him did not believe Americans would fight! They thought the America would sue for peace. Yamamoto had told them he could run rampage in the Pacific for six months, and after that he could promise nothing. It was he who stated after the attack on Pearl Harbor, "I fear that all we have done is awoken a sleeping giant!"

Answer 4

He was on his flagship, the IJN battleship Nagato in the Japanese home waters.

Answer 5

He felt as if he had "awaken a sleeping giant."

Answer 6

He thought America was a sleeping giant. that was waken quite rudley