[JasonC]

They probably also wanted a back rub and a V-8, it is immaterial. The single greatest sticking point for the "honor" of their officers was the Shinto cult around the emperor, and the US was perfectly willing to scrap any plan to remove said emperor to ensure a more peaceful occupation. It just wasn't willing to *say* so. Which was a pure point of prestige and not worth one drop of human blood.

[Poe White Trash]

>>> They probably also wanted a back rub and a V-8, it is immaterial. <<<

I think that you are in error. This WAS far from being immaterial to them. The Japanese military was far from being blase about their territorial acquisitions during the Pacific War (not to mention Taiwan and Korea). You know, acquisitions paid for with their country’s blood and treasure. You’re also ignoring the important distinction between “the person of the emperor” and “the imperial system.”

After reading historians ranging from Robert Butow to Richard Frank, it’s pretty clear to me that the Showa Emperor and the militarists in Japan were not in agreement amongst themsleves as to what conditions of surrender would be acceptable. Even after the Potsdam Declaration. You are greatly oversimplifying matters.

>>> the US was perfectly willing to scrap any plan to remove said emperor to ensure a more peaceful occupation. <<<

By “the US,” do you mean Asst. Secs. of State Dean Acheson and Archibald MacLeish? And the majority of US citizens and Congressmen in 1945? You must be joking.