Japan's expansion in Asia is like the classic tale of a "friend" who slowly takes over your room and then, when you complain, leaves your group chat. Drama ensues.

• The Manchurian Incident: 22 Sept 1931
  • Think of this like a spark in a powder keg. After a bomb in Mukden, the League of Nations (think of this like the United Nations’ older sibling) had a big debate. Japan's representative was being all chill and suggested a little detective work in Manchuria.
  • Real World Example: Imagine if during a class argument, someone suggested asking the class monitor to look into it.
• US being the Cool Kid
  • Even though the US wasn't part of the League's "club", the League wanted their support. But Henry Stimson (the US's group messenger) was like, “Nah, Japan doesn't want it.”
  • Because the US stayed out, Japan maybe felt emboldened and pushed further into Manchuria.
• League's Bold Move: Oct 1931
  • They gave Japan a deadline to leave all the places they occupied. But Japan, being the rebellious teen, ignored it.
• Japan's Flip-Flop
  • First, Japan didn’t want an enquiry. Now they did. So, a commission led by Lord Lytton was set up.
  • Real World Example: It's like first saying you don’t want to play a game and then suddenly wanting to be the referee.
• Economic Tensions: Jan 1932
  • The world's economy was as shaky as a Jenga tower. China wanted economic penalties on Japan, but members of the League were hesitant.
• Stimson Doctrine: 7 Jan 1932
  • The US basically said they won't recognize anything Japan and China agree on if it hurts US interests. But, they didn't stop trading with Japan. It's like telling your friend you disapprove of their actions but still borrowing their notes.
• Britain's Stance
  • The UK was in a pickle. They acknowledged Japan’s promise for open trade but didn’t jump on the US's stance immediately.
• The Lytton Report: Oct 1932
  • The verdict? Japan was in the wrong for its actions in Manchuria, and Manchukuo was just a puppet state. Imagine calling out a friend for manipulating someone else to do their bidding.
• Japan's Mic Drop: Feb 1933
  • After the League agreed with the Lytton report, Japan said “Bye, Felicia!” and left the League. Plus, they occupied more territories.
• The Tanggu Truce: May 1933
  • Here's the juicy drama. Japan and China signed a truce with several terms, but China was basically told to shut up and agree.

Japan was acting like the bad kid in school, and the League tried to tell them off. But there was a plot twist: the Japanese government seemed to not have control over some of their own army! Think of it as a headteacher not having control over some rebellious students.