A mesura que l'apetit de la gent per tal lluitar augmentava, en 1940 el Japó va entrar en l'aliança de l'«Eix» amb Alemanya i Itàlia.
As the public's appetite for fighting increased, in 1940 Japan entered into an "Axis" alliance with Germany and Italy. The event was celebrated by giving young Japanese children flags of the three Axis powers: