Would the Japanese have surrendered if we assured them that they would keep the emperor ?

Question

If we hadn't insisted on unconditional surrender, and made it clear to the Japanese that they would not be annexed and the emperor would remain as a figurehead, would they have surrendered before dropping the nuclear bombs?

Answer 1

Ooh, complicated question. According to the incredibly well-researched appendix to the novel "Lighter than a Feather," the cabinet ruling Japan may well have been a peace cabinet; however, some elements even within that cabinet could not bring themselves to accept the idea of Japanese defeat and some even preferred a "beautiful end" for the war, meaning the preservation of Japanese honor at the cost of existence. Therefore, pro-surrender forces may not have been able to overcome pro-war forces politically, and the pro-war faction was willing to use such tactics as persuading Minister Kido to kill himself and thus leave Japan with no person with governmental authority to negotiate peace.

Answer 2

Probably not. After the bombs were dropped, it was the Emperor who insisted on surrendering, finally taking a firm stance to end the war- not knowing if he would be killed for it, either by the Japanese or the Americans.

Answer 3

I agree with The Armchair Explorer. There was a surrender faction and a never surrender faction. Most likely the most fanatic elements would have come out on top. It's not like Germany where Hitler had a good grip until almost the very end. Even the Japanese themselves did not know who was really in charge in those days.

Answer 4

No they would not. In the final surrender terms after the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki we did allow them to keep the emperor.

Answer 5

no. there honor is what makes them. they believe that honor is more important then anything. they would not have done it. wouldn't have even thought about it. they needed some help with their decision