The political structures of the Japanese Empire allow the military to operate outside the control of the civilian government. This leads to the invasion of Manchuria, and a new view of Japan's destiny emerges.

After the successful attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese army begins a widespread assault throughout Asia. The war successes accumulate, Malaysia and Singapore are conquered, then the Philippines and Burma.

In the Japanese-occupied territories, the military rules with extreme harshness. Countless atrocities are committed against the civilian population, but also against prisoners of war. Meanwhile, doubts are growing among the Japanese population.

The overwhelming superiority of the Allies becomes increasingly apparent and comes to its climax in August 1945 with the atomic bombing of the two cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This action leads to the surrender of Japan.