I was listening to a talk by Victor Davis Hanson. He said by August 1945, LeMay had about 2000 bombers at his disposal, which were flying daily missions. The largest Japanese cities had been firebombed to the point that 50-70% of their area was destroyed, and LeMay had already started on medium-size cities. LeMay's plan was, with the end of war in Europe, to bring that up to 8,000-10,000 bombers by spring of 1946.
IMHO, the Emperor of Japan was "lucky" the US used atom bombs. If gave him the face, and political cover, to argue to his most hawkish, dead-end elements that unless they surrendered, Japan would simply cease to exist before too long
Tojo wanted to kill Hirohito and proclaim he was a “Martyr” to keep the war going.
2000 bombers loaded with incendiary bombs flying unopposed against cities built mainly of bamboo and wood.
Yes, the atomic bombs were a godsend for the general population of Japan.
Crazy how the Japanese army wanted to keep fighting. Absolute idiots who believed their own propaganda.
And they want us to apologise for not completely destroying their island.