Japanese raiders need distant sea lanes to wage economic war

Could Japanese cruisers wage economic warfare while carriers and battleships ambushed forces sent to hunt them?

Yes, but only if the raiders reached distant sea lanes where meaningful commerce targets existed.

Japanese cruisers could be dangerous raiders, but only after reaching waters where merchant traffic offered worthwhile targets. Possible operating areas include the deep South Pacific, the American west coast, and the western Indian Ocean. Carrier and battleship ambush groups could punish pursuers, yet those heavy forces would also have to support a campaign far from Japan's main bases. The scenario shows that commerce warfare depends on geography, endurance, and access to sea lanes as much as on a raider's tactical power.