Commander Mitsuo Fuchida was the leader of the Japanese strike force in the attack on Pearl Harbor. He led the first wave in his Nakajima B5N, and with 182 other planes, just before 08:00 a.m on December 7, 1941. After the second wave, that consisted of 171 planes, all eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four sunk. Three cruisers, four destroyers, an antiaircraft training ship, and one minelayer were also sank or damaged. A total of twenty-one ships were damaged or lost in the attack. Despite the fact that no important base installations were attacked, 2403 Americans have died in the military strike. The attack definitely ignited war between the two nations.

Mitsuo Fuchida made the map of the battle report of the attack on the way back to Japan. With other pilots of the squadron, and military staff, he draw 60 ships and hand colored them in green, blue and yellow watercolors. The colors and other notes provide the type and size of the ships, and the level of damage (minor, moderate, serious and sunk). He also mentioned the types of torpedoes and bombs used. The map is 80x61cm and dated December 8, 1941 (Tokyo time) with a red label : 軍極秘 (Top Secret).

A few weeks later, on December26, Fuchida was invited in the imperial palace. He presented the map to Emperor Hirohito and assured him of its 80% accuracy, an impressive precision.

Fuchida later led another series of air attacks and survived the war, as did only 10% of his squadron.