 Kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Pakupera kwaApril 1942, Japan neshamwari yayo Thailand vakanga vanyatsokunda Burma, Malaya, Dutch East Indies, Singapore, uye Rabaul, vachikuvadza zvikuru mauto eAllied ndokutora nhamba huru yavasungwa. 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 eJapan akawanawo kukunda kwezvikepe zvengarava muSouth China Sea, Java Sea neIndian Ocean, uye akarwisa mabhomba eAllied naval basekuDarwin, kuAustralia. 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. 