What influences do you think were most important in motivating japan to build its empire?

Well even though they wanted to be an isolated country without other people's cultures mixed in, they did take a couple of things from the Chinese. Like the writing system and the religion (Buddhism). I think they sort of took influences from the Europeans as well, I think. They had samurais, similar to Knights; both held courage and loyalty above all things. I hope a helped a bit!