To what end? Much of Japan's self identity that had hardened post WW1 was as seeing the Yamato people as the smasher of the tyrannical colonial Empires and domination of markets. That they might dominate the markets was a happy side effect.

To partner with, or worse yet be subordinate to the Meddling British, or worse yet the mongrel, greedy, and glutinous Americans was not something the chosen people could tolerate. After the international insults of tge Washington and London Naval treaties and the international condemnation of Japan's intervention in Manchuria and China it really just wasn't in the cards or in Japan's interest.