Reasons for the Development of Japanese Psyche during 1930's and 1940's?

I believe there was a movement that sought to obtain more resources such as oil and more land for expansion in Korea and Manchuria. There could very well have been an aim to bring civility to China whom Japan despised as ignorant and uncultured. There was also a desire to expand into all of Korea and China by means of a railroad network. Japan needed space to expand and to grow economically.