Why did Japan think they could beat the USA?

Answer: because the japan attacked pearl harbor and distroyed all the battleships some distroyers but they didnt distroy the oil supply and the aircraft carriers but the usa distroyed 4 japanese aircraft carriers in the battle of midway 4 months after pearl harbor attack. LT jimmy doolitle lauched 16 b-25 bombers of the aircraft carrier named uss hornet. In the battle of midway only 10 american ships vs the japanese fleet

at that time they thought that they had the best plans, soldiers, and weapons.