The Japanese military was dedicated to the Code of Bushido. Honoring the Code required Japanese to die in battle; dishonor came to the soldier and his family if he surrendered or was captured.
In October 1944, the first kamikaze raids occurred during the invasion of the Philippines. This was the first time that suicide was applied to a Battle situation by Japanese airmen against the American Navy or USAAF.
Then came the invasions of Iwo Jima in February 1945 and Okinawa on April 1, 1945. The Japanese fought to the last man with orders to kill 10 Americans for each of their numbered killed. The casualty count mounted on Iwo before it was secured. Okinawa was far worse for Army and Marines ashore and Navy ships around the island. Kamikaze raids on Navy ships produced horrific numbers of casualties.
Meanwhile, on the night of March 9-10, 1945, 334 B-29 bombers commenced a massive fire bombing raid on Tokyo. Over 100,000 people died in the firestorm, 1 million were left homeless, and 40 percent of Tokyo was reduced to ashes. Over the next series of months up to August 6, 1945, virtually ever small, medium, and large city in Japan was burned to cinders. After repeated calls for surrender, the Japanese refused.
It was only after the two atom bombs were dropped did the Emperor entertain the thought of surrender. He made a recording his intent to surrender that was broadcast to the Japanese people over the objections of the hardliners who wanted to fight on. The hardliners' logic was to bleed the Americans so badly that they would accept Japanese terms to end the killing. That is why the two atomic bombs were dropped. millions of Japanese and Allied lives were saved, and the casualties of both atomic bombings were less than the numbers killed in the B-29 fire raids.
[That is why the two atomic bombs were dropped. millions of Japanese and Allied lives were saved, and the casualties of both atomic bombings were less than the numbers killed in the B-29 fire raids.]
The nature of this weapon at first glance was supernatural. It was unprecedented in world history and there was no known defense against it. This allowed the militarists and the emperor a measure of face saving in their surrender.