What were the historical connections between the opening of Japan in 1854 and the defeat of Japan in WWII in 1945?

1. What were the historical connections between the opening of Japan in 1854 and the defeat of Japan in WWII in 1945? 2. How did the “China Incident” lead Japan to the Pacific War? What role did the U.S. play at different points in the process, and how and why?3. How did the American occupation change Japan, in what aspects and to what degree?