 Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Pakupera kwaApril 1942, Japan neshamwari yayo Thailand vakanga vakunda Burma, Malaya zvizere, Dutch East Indies, Singapore, uye Rabaul, ichikonzera kurasikirwa kukuru kumauto eAllied uye kutora nhamba huru yevasungwa. Pasinei nokuramba kwakasimba kwakaitwa nemauto ePhilippine neUnited States, Commonwealth yePhilippines yakazopedzisira yatorwa muna May 1942, ichimanikidza hurumende yayo kuti iende kunzvimbo yainge isina vanhu. Musi wa16 April, muBurma, varwi veBritain vanosvika 7 000 vakakombwa neJapan 33rd Division panguva yeHondo yeYenangyaung uye vakanunurwa neChina 38th Division. Mauto eJapane akawanawo rukundo rwomugungwa muSouth China Sea, Java Sea neIndian Ocean, uye akarwisa mabhomba eAllied naval base paDarwin, Australia. Muna January 1942, budiriro bedzi yeAllied mukurwisana neJapan yakanga iri rukundo rweChina paChangsha. Uku kukunda kuri nyore pamusoro pevavengi vasina kugadzirira veUnited States neveEurope kwakasiya Japan ichizvivimba zvikuru, pamwe chete nokuwedzeredzwa. 