简介：Usingdiagrams,cartoonsandfilmfootage,thefilmexaminesJapan'ssocialstructureandpresentsageographicalandhistoricalbasisforunderstandingJapan'sandtheUnitedStates'involvementinthewar.AwrittenprologuetothedocumentaryacknowledgesthehonorableandloyalserviceoftheNisei(Japanese-Americans)duringWorldWarII.ScenesofJapaneseceremonies,industry,cityandrurallife,militarytrainingandcombatareshown.ThenarrationtracesJapaneseideologicalhistorybeginningwithEmperorJimmu,thefirstGod-Emperor,whosedivinecommandwas"Letusextendourcapitalandcovertheeightcornersoftheworldunderoneroof."AsEmperorHirohitoisadirectdescendantofJimmu,heisrecognizedasaGod-Emperorandidealizedasarulerwhogovernsallareasoflifeandisreveredwithoutquestion.ShintoisJapan'smainreligionandaffectseveryaspectoflife.Forbelievers,theghostsofthedeadexistonearthtoguidetheliving,andthosewhodiedinbattleareconsideredwarriorgods.AhistoryoftheJapanesewarlordsandtheirsamurai,whosecodeofhonorsanctionedtreachery,doublecrossandambush,ispresented.Japan'sfirstunsuccessfulattemptatworldconquestwasmadein1592.ThegrowthofChristianityinJapanaroundthesametimewaseventuallyhalted,andthecountryremainedisolatedfor200yearsuntilin1853,whentheU.S.extendedtradeopportunities.Sincethen,Japanhasmodernizeditstechnology,reorganizedthepoliticalstructure,andinductedthecommonmanintoprestigiousmilitaryservice.Governmentcontrolledcompulsoryeducationand"thoughtpolice,"areusedtomanagetheJapanesepeople.On18Sep1931,JapanlauncheditscampaignandgainedcontrolofManchuria.Sincethen,ithasconqueredManila,HongKong,Singapore,NankingandCorregidor,hasattackedPearlHarborandhastorturedandmistreateditsAmericanandFilipinoprisoners.Bythecloseofthefilm,however,theU.S.islaunchingasuccessfulcounteroffensiveandisconcentratingthefullpowerofitsAirForce,ArmyandNavytodestroyJapan'sabilitytowagewar.…