How did japan's empire grow and then shrink?

Japan's empire grew rapidly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by industrialization, militarization, and imperial ambitions, culminating in victories in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). This expansion included annexing Korea and establishing control over parts of China and Southeast Asia. However, after Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945, it lost its colonies and territories, leading to a significant contraction of its empire. The subsequent U.S. occupation and the adoption of a pacifist constitution further solidified Japan's reduced international standing.