Japan paid the price. But luckily for them, we destroyed the enemy within their own country and America laid a path for Japan’s strong recovery and the rich prosperity they enjoy today.
When I lived in Japan (Navy, Sasebo) I had a Japanese friend who was very conversant in English. And he was joker and we had some good conversations.
He told me one time, “If you’re going to be beaten, it’s best to be beaten by the Americans.”
I knew an old guy from Germany that was a paratroopers in WWII. ( Yes, the Wehrmacht had paratroopers too ) The last year of the war the paratroopers were shuttled by train between the eastern and western front as needed. When they were on the eastern front they fought the Red Army like brave savages. On the Western front the put up mild resistance. You can see the dynamic there.
I was in Japan about 10 years ago, actually Hiroshima for this day’s celebration. It was an amazing day for an American. Little children came up to us and gave us the peace sign and said, “Peace”, with smiles on their faces. We saved them from the enemy within that was cruel as well as the Koreans who were horrible and did what their evil minds thought hurting beyond belief. Americans by far were there to save them from evil and not hurt them so they were able to have peace.
My aunt and uncle were missionaries for years there and loved the people. Many of the Japanese we know are second and third generation Christians.
” He told me one time, “If you’re going to be beaten, it’s best to be beaten by the Americans . “
My Japanese father in-law , who fought in WW2 , pretty much said the same thing to me years ago . He contracted malaria in Malaysia in WW2 and the Americans not only saved his life but eventually sent him back to Japan . It was the main reason he gave us our blessing when we decided to get married in 1987 in Tokyo .