I thought it was pretty well established that the USA knew Japan was willing to surrender, but dropped the bomb anyway? There are a few different theories abou

I thought it was pretty well established that the USA knew Japan was willing to surrender, but dropped the bomb anyway? There are a few different theories about this, and still some controversy about it all to this very day as I understand it. One idea holds that Japan would have surrendered earlier had the Allies not insisted on the abolition of the role of the Emperor (who as I understand it, is something akin to God in Japanese culture). This was apparently a step too far for the Japanese at the time. Another idea holds that even if the Allies had invaded, the Japanese would have quickly capitulated IF the Russians were part of the invasion. Supposedly Japan was uniquely afraid of Russia at that moment in history, for some reason. I don't recall now the details behind this suggestion. I can't say much about the veracity of either position, but those are two themes I've heard repeatedly about the situation.