Originally posted by Wotan
The Japanese made an offer of surrender as long as the Emperor could remain in power. It was rejected obviously because the Soviets declared war on Japan.
Even after the bomb was dropped the Japanese made this same offer directly to the Western allies and it was rejected. It was even implied by the US that the Emperor might stand trial for war crimes and if found guilty maybe even executed.
MacArthur intervened when he heard of this stating that to the Japanese executing their emperor would be like crucifying Christ.
Finally the the allies backed down from that position and excepted surrender with the Emperor still holding his position.
Why did Japan give up? Many reasons but at least some in the government were looking for a way out for some time.
I have to differ on the on fact with the emperor. My understanding is that at Yatla it had been decided about the timing of Russian entry into the war with Japan. U.S. offered a surrender to Japan that included the fact that the emperor "might be tried and executed" and it was rejected by the Japenese. After the bombs got dropped and The Soviet Union joined the war, the same terms were agreed upon, unconditional surrender, but the emperor would not be tried of war crimes or any other criminal charge. Japenese didnt make the offer, they accepted ours.
True on the mcarthur story.
You can look up the japense council decisions during that time and you will see they were very divided on whether to surrender. Ultimately it was the emperor's decision.
