Paramount to achieving what exactly? And in whose best interest? This sounds a lot like post-hoc rationalization. Are you trying to argue that a Japanese SSR w

Paramount to achieving what exactly? And in whose best interest? This sounds a lot like post-hoc rationalization. Are you trying to argue that a Japanese SSR would have tipped the scales so significantly the Soviets could have succeeded (and then done what exactly? start a nuclear war?)? Or that Japan itself would have been worse off (if so, why do you care if you're not Japanese?)? You'd think legitimizing such an unprecedented, traumatizing, unspeakable act like using nuclear weapons would require something more plausible than "well, we really didn't want them to be annexed by the Soviets".