Nagano was a major advocate of Nanshin-ron, the southern-expansion doctrine, and pushed it forcefully. Geography constrained the choice: east led across the Pacific toward the United States, while west meant continuing into China, where useful modern infrastructure would require heavy investment. Northern expansion had already failed, so Nagano championed the southern route. Japan's strategic geography narrowed an already dangerous set of options.
Notable Point · 9:56-11:19
Nagano's support for southern expansion
With northern expansion discredited, Nagano strongly backed the southern route that would carry Japan toward the Pacific and Southeast Asia.