Not exactly what I recall, but people have different takes on it, I think most would agree they provoked it and wanted it. I think Japan was becoming kinda like the U.S. is seen today as in being imperialistic, Japan was closing out competitors for resources in parts of Asia, that seems to be a no no with Washington. Seems throughout history the farce of communism is overlooked when business is conducted but an excuse when its isolated. Therefore it seems nationalism and not communism is fought against. Japan was seen as arrogant for trying to freeze the U.S. out of markets and someone who could be easily defeated so the U.S. starting deploying ships into Japanese waters, froze assets and put further sanctions on them. By that time the U.S. had already deciphered Japanese codes and knew what was going to happen. Ive read something of the sort more than once unlike the Gulf of Tonkin where things used to vary, but thats been declassified so I guess that version is correct.