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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito_surrender_broadcast https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito_surrender_broadcast The emperor directly mentions the atomic

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito_surrender_broadcast https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirohito_surrender_broadcast The emperor directly mentions the atomic bomb in his address; "Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization." He only tacitly mentions the battle situation; "But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone – the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of our servants of the state, and the devoted service of our one hundred million people – the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest."

pdonis 2y ago
> The emperor directly mentions the atomic bomb in his address...He only tacitly mentions the battle situation I know that. And I said why: to save face. He didn't want to tell the Japanese people that the Soviet invasion of Manchuria was the reason. The atomic bomb made a much better reason for public consumption. That doesn't mean it was the actual reason that drove the decision, which was made in private.
- themaninthedark 2y ago
  So without the atomic bomb, the emperor and the peace faction did not have a way out and the fighting would have continued.
  - pdonis 2y ago
    > without the atomic bomb, the emperor and the peace faction did not have a way out That's not clear either. Without the atomic bomb they might well have found another way to save face.
    - themaninthedark 2y ago
      If the argument is that "We can't say that the atomic bombs were the catalyst for Japan surrendering because the surrender happened after a bombing and Soviet war declaration therefor they are confounding factors" then the same holds true for the argument that the Soviet invasion was the catalyst for surrender. Now I will say that I have not read Hasegawa's book but Wikipedia says that it is "challenging the widely accepted orthodox view that the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the most decisive factor in Japan's decision to surrender ending the war against Japan." It will be interesting to read but it looks like that it is not the accepted theory and that primary sources from the era were destroyed on all sides.

pdonis 2y ago

> The emperor directly mentions the atomic bomb in his address...He only tacitly mentions the battle situation I know that. And I said why: to save face. He didn't want to tell the Japanese people that the Soviet invasion of Manchuria was the reason. The atomic bomb made a much better reason for public consumption. That doesn't mean it was the actual reason that drove the decision, which was made in private.

themaninthedark 2y ago
So without the atomic bomb, the emperor and the peace faction did not have a way out and the fighting would have continued.
- pdonis 2y ago
  > without the atomic bomb, the emperor and the peace faction did not have a way out That's not clear either. Without the atomic bomb they might well have found another way to save face.
  - themaninthedark 2y ago
    If the argument is that "We can't say that the atomic bombs were the catalyst for Japan surrendering because the surrender happened after a bombing and Soviet war declaration therefor they are confounding factors" then the same holds true for the argument that the Soviet invasion was the catalyst for surrender. Now I will say that I have not read Hasegawa's book but Wikipedia says that it is "challenging the widely accepted orthodox view that the atomic bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the most decisive factor in Japan's decision to surrender ending the war against Japan." It will be interesting to read but it looks like that it is not the accepted theory and that primary sources from the era were destroyed on all sides.