Japan's plan was to weaken an advancing enemy fleet across the Pacific before bringing it to battle at rough parity or better. Victory in that climactic action was expected to create bargaining power for a negotiated peace. The plan was fragile because Japan could not repeat the cycle if the United States withdrew, rebuilt, and returned much stronger. Japan therefore read Jutland from the perspective of the smaller German fleet, asking how an inferior force could hold off a greater industrial power. The United States read it from the British perspective, asking how the larger fleet could avoid missing its chance to crush the opponent.
Notable Point · 29:35-31:23
Japan read Jutland as a route to a decisive battle
Japanese planning sought to attrit an advancing fleet before fighting near parity, while American study asked how the stronger side could avoid Britain's incomplete victory at Jutland.