Why did japan ally with germany in ww2?

The "Rome–Berlin Axis" became a military alliance in 1939 under the so-called "Pact of Steel", with the Tripartite Pact of 1940 leading to the integration of the military aims of Germany, Italy and Japan. ... The war ended in 1945 with the defeat of the Axis powers and the dissolution of their alliance. read more

Germany needed Italy to distract Britain, and Japan to distract Russia before the Americans came in. Italy and Japan failed. Italy needed Germany to do the heavy lifting against Britain. Germany failed. read more

After 1900 Japan aligned itself with Britain, and Germany and Japan were enemies in World War I. Japan declared war on the German Empire in 1914 and seized key German possessions in China and the Pacific. read more

In the wake of World War One, and the loss of influence by the European nations in Asia, due to the effects of World War One, Japan began moving into European colonies in Asia spreading propaganda about "pan-Asianism" something they are doing again today, just as Germany is with Europe, and how it would "benefit Asia". read more