For those of you that think Japan was defeated and ready to surrender

[Anlushac11]

Pease read the book "Japans Longest Day" Kazutoshi Hando detailing the attempted Military coup

Here is a sunmmary:

August 14 1945, the 315th BW on Guam is to bomb last remaining refinery at Akita on north coast of Japan. Raid is held up for 40min then recieves orders to proceed.

In 26 Centuries Japan has never surrendered and her troops have a reputation of fighting to the death rather than surrender.

Japan has over 9,000 aircraft and over 2 million troops held back ready to defend Japan against what they new would be the imminent invasion. In addition over 20 million civilians are being trained as a militia to attack any invaders.

On the evening of August 14 1945, Emperor Hirohito attends a cabinent meeting where the Generals and the diplomats are deadlocked over whether to accept unconditional surrender or fight to the death. Suddenly Emperor Hirohito announces that he is going to accept the unconditional surrender. He says he can no longer prolong the suffering of the Japanese people and fighting to the death is not possible. It is more important that Japan survives, rebuilds, and moves on.

Hirohito announces his plan to record the surrender that evening and broadcast it at 12:00pm on August 15th 1945.

A rogue group of young and fanatical military officers called The Young Tigers hear of the surrender and plan a coup that will declare martial law and refuse surrender. They also plan to have the War Minister broadcast a message in the name of the Emperor for the Japanese people fight to the death in the name of the Emperor rather thean bringing shame and dishonor on Japan.

Major Kenji Hatanaka, a member of General Anami's staff, leads the coup plotters. The Plan is to seize the Imperial palace and hold the Emperor hostage. He believes the Army will support and follow the coup. The 1st imperial guard, part of the emperors bodyguard, is allied with the coup plotters.

At 10:00pm decleration of unconditional surrender document is signed by all members of the cabinet making it a legal document. At the same time 1,000 Imperial guards enter the inner grounds of the Palace. They are armed with rifles and SMG's around the library where emperor will record surrender. They intend to seize the Emperor when he comes to the library

At about 10:50pm Emperor starts on way to the car to take him to the library to record the surrender broadcast.

At about 11:00pm the 315th BW is picked up on Japanese RADAR. Air raid sirens go off and suddenly a blackout for air raid throws plotters into disarray.

Hirohito goes back to his bomb proof bunker. Hatanaka restores order with his men. With things in disarray Hatanaka realizes that to secure the Imperial Palace grounds they will need the support of the Army division guarding the palace. Major Hatanaka and colonel Ida go to see Lt. General Mori to gain his support. Without his support they cannot succeed.

11:20pm Emporer Hirohito gets in car and goes to the Ministry House on grounds which has a recording studio and a generator, without Hatanaka the the troops are hesitant and dont stop Hirohito from going to the house. Recording s are made but no one will accept responsibility to safeguard them. A chamberlin named Tokugawa has heard the rumour of a coup so he hides the recordings in a small safe in closet and covers the safe with newspapers and clothes.

A confrontation occurs and Major Hatanaka shoots and kills Lt.Gen Mori. Hatanaka then uses the Lt.Gen's papers and seal to forge Imperial order 584 to order the division to deploy around the Imperial palace. Runners take orders to the units barracks and the division marches to seal off palace and troops move to secure broadcast studios so surrender broadcast cannot proceed.

Hirohito sees troops surround his palace. Hatanaka is in control and has secured the palace.

Colonel Ida goes to enlist support of the Commander of the Eastern Army District in Tokyo which has over 100, 000 men.

At 1:45am Major Hatanaka's troops are searching the palace for the surrender recordings the emperor made. Due to the blackout they are searching in the dark and with a few flashlights.

Meanwhile Hatanaks troops intercept the recording crew by the front gate trying to leave and interrogate the crew. Hatanaka's troops discover that the recordings are hidden somewhere in the ministry house.

Yoshishiro Tokugawa is found by Hatanaka's men, questioned, lies that he knows northing, gets into a argument with one of the soldiers,and is beaten til he is barely conscious.

Colonel Ida returns with a message from the Eastern District Army Commander. The message to Major Hatanaka is that he is to stand down and leave the palace grounds at once.

At 5:00am Major Hatanaka's seizes the NKH broadcasting studio to broadcast the coup so that army members sympathetic to the coup will join. The recording studio person on duty sees the script and its contents and refuses to comply even when threatened with death. He stalls for time saying that until the blackout is lifted and power restored he can do nothing. He fails to mention that the studio has a generator and could have made the broadcast immediately.

Suddenly Major Hatanaka recieves a phone call at the Studio from the Eastern District military Commander and is ordered to stand down or face immediate arrest. Hatanaka turns to the only man who can salvage the coup, General Anami.

Colonel Ida visits General Anami to gain his support but General Anami refuses to intervene and moments later commits seppuku.

8:20am the blackout is lifted. The Eastern Military District's 100,000 man army has seized control and restored order at the palace. The emperors servants retrieve the recordings and proceed to the broadcast studio. A message is broadcast that Japan has agreed to the unconditional surrender.

11:20am Major Hatanaka commits suicide by shooting himself in the head in a park with a view of the palace.

12:00 Emperor Hirohito's surrender speech to the japanese people is broadcast. The war is over.

[gopaloo]

That doesn't suprise me at all. The Japanese were intent on dying for their country, if put in that situation. Not to mention for their emperor. Defiantely somethign to read up on.

[Napalm]

I think that there still is a group like that in Japan, who drive around in black vans, and kidnap and kill Americans. I think one time they killed an American sailor, then dumped him in front of the base's gate.

[Mihail]

Wow, because you know no foreign person has ever died outside their own country napalm.

Anyway this information is not fact, it's only speculations.

[Smitty025]

Weird, there was just a show about this on the hiatory channel.

[Aeroflot]

Anyway this information is not fact, it's only speculations.

In fact, much of history is just speculation and educated guesses.

[R4DG aka Run 4 Da Gun]

they were hoping for another divine wind to knock the americans off their battleships

infact they prayed for it

[USMA2010]

Mongol fleet, sure. US Pacific Feet? Damn big storm for that.

[R4DG aka Run 4 Da Gun]

900 ships in the mongol fleet

[Anlushac11]

Originally Posted by Mihail

Wow, because you know no foreign person has ever died outside their own country napalm.

Anyway this information is not fact, it's only speculations.

And what do you base your information on? A Japanese historian presents a set of events from a Japanese perspective and because you dont agree with it you dismiss it as speculation?

Your in denial Mihail. Admit it. If it was from an American source I could see your denying it but how can you deny a event recognized in Japanese history when written from a Japanese point of view that affected Japanese history?