The Good Cause - the reason to go into the war

Someone said the following, in debating the reason for Japan to go into the Greater East Asia War / Pacific War (WWII):

"Taking back Asia for Asians was certainly a good cause."

It sounds very nice, but I doubt if you'll find many people, even in Japan, who actually believe that's what Japan's real motives were...

Yes, there are many informed ones who know, in and outside Japan!

First of all, it's quite obvious from the extensive list of countries the West had colonized by the late 19th century, i.e. almost all parts of the world except the far east. 

In June 1955, a former Lieutenant-General Aketo Nakamura was invited to the Kingdom of Thailand. The former Prime Minister of Thailand, Kukrit Pramoj, who was Chief Editor of the newspaper ‘Siam Rath’ at the time and who took office as Prime Minister in 1973, stated:

“It was thanks to Japan that all nations of Asia gained independence. For Mother Japan, it was a difficult birth which resulted in much suffering, yet her children are growing up quickly to be healthy and strong. 

Who was it that enabled the citizens of the nations of Southeast Asia to gain equal status alongside the United States and Britain today? It is because Japan, who acted like a mother to us all, carried out acts of benevolence towards us and performed feats of self-sacrifice. December 8th is the day when Mother Japan – who taught us this important lesson – laid her life on the line for us, after making a momentous decision and risking her own well-being for our sake.

Furthermore, August 15th is the day when our beloved and revered mother was frail and ailing. Neither of these two days should ever be forgotten”.

US had 78 times more resources (oil, coal, iron-ore, etc) than Japan had at the start of the war in 1941. Why would Japan go into such a suicidal war if there was no serious cause such as defending its sovereignty and getting rid of the West from Asia, and if she was not pushed into it? 

Many people do know the reason.