The US’s involvement in the fight against Japan officially started in Pearl Harbor. On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. This was Japan's first attack Japan on US soil, although Japan had been attacking neighboring countries for more than four decades prior. Japan sought to build an empire, which had put it in conflict with everything near it. When Japan took over Manchuria, an eastern province in northern China, tension began growing between the Japanese and US governments. When the US took over Hawaii and expanded its Navy fleet, Japan began to plot. Japan kept strict radio silence on Dec. 7, 1941. After surrounding the Pacific fleet with ships, they began to send out a wave of bomber planes. At the command, the planes continued bombing down the US ships for nearly two hours. According to The National WWII Museum, a museum based in New Orleans, “The Japanese, however, immediately followed their Pearl Harbor assault with attacks against US and British bases in the Philippines, Guam, Midway Island, Wake Island, Malaya, and Hong Kong.” The attacks on Pearl Harbor sparked the US’s involvement in WWII and Japan’s control over the Pacific Ocean.

War-weary soldiers made their way back home and honored those lost. Americans had dog tags to commemorate their fallen soldiers, but Japan has Yosegaki Hinomaru. Yosegaki Hinomaru, or good luck flags, were carried by Japanese soldiers to boost morale. Usually, they were signed by the soldier's family and friends wishing them to return home. This is a tradition that extends back to 1870. Not only did they provide hope to soldiers, but it is also believed to hold the ‘spirit’ of that soldier. Many of these flags were taken by US soldiers to be kept or given as gifts. Likewise, Japanese soldiers did the same with American dog tags. Japan had a draft, like the US, that enlisted all able-bodied men from ages 17-40. This meant that several boys were taken from their families to fight in the war.