The Japanese were starved for energy supplies by the Americans so they took off in a hurry to secure the oil in Indonesia. They got it too... for a short while.
I wouldn't suggest that the Japanese military were angels any more than I would say the same about western militaries, but perhaps it's not as simple as high school history(?) would suggest.
This book might interest you... http://www.amazon.com/Day-Deceit-Truth-About-Harbor/dp/0743201299
And one other thing... Britain is a very small island off the coast of a very large continent and yet over the course of history they've come to dominate the earth.... That doesn't happen by constantly 'defending' your shores! How any tell the story of wars that were deliberately started by the British? Why did all those conquered nations choose to attack a more powerful country???
No...
When the Brits want something they invade it, pure and simple, then they write the history texts as they see fit and most people eat it up.
