The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7 , 1937 -- September 9 , 1945 ) , so named due to the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894 -- 95 , was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan from 1937 to 1945 .
The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7 , 1937 -- September 9 , 1945 ) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan .