The Japanese view is that if they spilled enough American blood, the American people would demand a negotiated peace. They hoped that would leave their government in place and maybe even part of their empire, like Korea and Manchuria. They were willing to sacrifice unlimited military and civilian personnel to accomplish this.
The key was Okinawa. Anyone who survived Okinawa knew this about the Japanese. Project the American casualties, Japanese casualties and civilian casualties through the lens of the population of the Japanese home islands and you understand the horrific casualties they were willing to take to accomplish this goal.
And they were prepared to lose Tokyo and fight on in the mountains. They were preparing mountain bunkers for the royal family and senior military for this phase.
People need to understand the bombs actually saved Japanese lives, not just American. The Emperor only considered forcing the military to surrender after the bombs, never before.
My uncle fought on Okinawa and knew he and others soldiers would be on the transports headed to Japan and knew their ticket would be punch d there.
Many grown men wept openly when they heard of the japs surrendered because of the bomb. Including my uncle.
They finally found their “safe space” /sarc.