In July 1945, WW2 had been going badly for Japan for awhile. Their current PM, 78-yr-old Kantaro Suzuki, who had been an admiral in the JIN, knew it all to well. The Allied leadership, led by the USA, met in the German city of Potsdam to draw up terms of surrender to present to Japan. As Asst. Secy. of War, John Mc Cloy advised Truman to include the statement that the Emperor would be retained under a shogun if Japan surrendered. However, Secy. of State James Byrnes convinced Truman to not do this, as it'd show weakness.
The preservation of the Koshitsu, the Royal House, was a prime concern for all Japanese, & virtually all of them would fight to the death in defense of that institution. Thus, when Suzuki saw the Potsdam Declaration, he saw no assurance that the Emperor would be retained. While he knew Japan couldn't sustain the war much longer, he could not countenance surrendering & losing the Emperor. So, after some thought, he said, "We will mokkasettsu it, a word, while not meaning an out rejection, generally means "treat with silent contempt". He wanted something saying the Emperor wouldn't be deposed or arrested.
But the Japanese press headlined that the govt, had REJECTED the declaration. Thus, the wheels for the use of the nukes were set into motion, as Truman had no qualms in using it to force Japan's surrender & thus save many Allied lives.
A general belief is that, had the Potsdam Declaration contained an assurance that the Emperor would be retained, Japan would've surrendered before the nukes were used. However, there's a possibility that the nukes SAVED many Japanese & Allied lives, as, even with the govt. ordering surrender, many Japanese military commanders & their men would've fought on. However, when HIROHITO HIMSELF ordered the surrender, almost all commanders obeyed him & surrendered their commands at once. However, Gen. Anami, some other high officers, & other military men killed themselves. Adm. Ugaki, leader of the Kamikaze Corps, upon hearing the Emperor, declared he'd received no official surrender order, & so flew one last suicide mission on Aug. 15, the day Hirohito ordered surrender. While no successful kamikaze attacks were reported that day, there was sporadic combat between US naval forces & likely kamikaze aircraft that day, & Ugaki was never heard from again.
I believe all those events transpired under God's will.
The preservation of the Koshitsu, the Royal House, was a prime concern for all Japanese, & virtually all of them would fight to the death in defense of that institution. Thus, when Suzuki saw the Potsdam Declaration, he saw no assurance that the Emperor would be retained. While he knew Japan couldn't sustain the war much longer, he could not countenance surrendering & losing the Emperor. So, after some thought, he said, "We will mokkasettsu it, a word, while not meaning an out rejection, generally means "treat with silent contempt". He wanted something saying the Emperor wouldn't be deposed or arrested.
But the Japanese press headlined that the govt, had REJECTED the declaration. Thus, the wheels for the use of the nukes were set into motion, as Truman had no qualms in using it to force Japan's surrender & thus save many Allied lives.
A general belief is that, had the Potsdam Declaration contained an assurance that the Emperor would be retained, Japan would've surrendered before the nukes were used. However, there's a possibility that the nukes SAVED many Japanese & Allied lives, as, even with the govt. ordering surrender, many Japanese military commanders & their men would've fought on. However, when HIROHITO HIMSELF ordered the surrender, almost all commanders obeyed him & surrendered their commands at once. However, Gen. Anami, some other high officers, & other military men killed themselves. Adm. Ugaki, leader of the Kamikaze Corps, upon hearing the Emperor, declared he'd received no official surrender order, & so flew one last suicide mission on Aug. 15, the day Hirohito ordered surrender. While no successful kamikaze attacks were reported that day, there was sporadic combat between US naval forces & likely kamikaze aircraft that day, & Ugaki was never heard from again.
I believe all those events transpired under God's will.