"Tora Tora" women's hoodie

On 7 December 1941, the history of the 20th century changed dramatically. On that day, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbour on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The aim of the offensive was to neutralise the American Pacific Fleet and prevent any immediate response to Japanese expansion in Southeast Asia. 

The meticulously planned operation involved more than 350 aircraft launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers. The main targets were the American battleships anchored in the harbour, nearby airfields and logistical facilities. 

The signal ‘Tora! Tora! Tora!’, which means “tiger” in Japanese and is an acronym for ‘Totsugeki Raigeki’ (lightning attack), was given by Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, signifying that the attack had been successful. 

In less than two hours, the attack had destroyed or damaged 20 warships and more than 300 aircraft. More than 2,400 Americans were killed and nearly 1,200 wounded. The battleships USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma were among the hardest hit.

The following day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called 7 December ‘a date which will live in infamy’ and secured a declaration of war against Japan, drawing the United States into World War II. The attack on Pearl Harbour and the signal ‘Tora! Tora! Tora!’ remain powerful symbols of this historic period.