| Japan Surrenders
The The Japanese did not know that the Americans had used their
last bomb during the second attack. The Imperial Council met on
the night of 9 August to discuss the changing situation. A vote
was held to decide on the question of continuing or stopping the
war, but it ended in a three to three tie. In a rare move by Emperor
Hirohito, he cast the deciding vote to end the war. Japan offered
to surrender to the Americans provided they could keep Emperor Hirohito
as head of the nation.
The Allies had always stated that the surrender of Germany and
Japan would be unconditional. In other words, Germany and Japan
could not ask for any deals from the victorious Allies. The Japanese
demand to keep the Emperor, therefore, caused a major problem for
Truman. Should he continue to fight and invade Japan or give in
on this Japanese demand? The Emperor was not directly responsible
for the start or operation of the war. Truman decided to allow the
Emperor to stay, but any new government had to be elected, all under
the watchful eyes of an American military governor. Many in the
Japanese government did not wish to accept the offer. A military
coup was attempted to take over the government and continue the
war. The attempt, however, failed and the Emperor surrendered Japan
to the Americans.
The End – VJ Day
On On 14 August 1945, the Japanese government accepted defeat.
The day was proclaimed Victory Japan (VJ) Day, but the signing of
the official document was not to occur until 2 September 1945. The
signing of the surrender took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo
Bay. One government official and one military leader represented
the Japanese side, and representatives of nine Allied nations were
present to accept the surrender.
 The War was Over, or Was It?
For years after the end of the war, Japanese soldiers
were discovered on small islands throughout the Pacific. One soldier
was discovered on the island of Guam in 1972, twenty-six years after
the war was officially over. He was celebrated as a hero for never
surrendering. His first words upon arriving in Tokyo were "It
is with much embarrassment that I return" The discovery led
to the search for other men still in the jungle. Another soldier
was discovered in 1974 on an island in the Philippines. He did not
believe the war was over and refused to surrender. Members of his
family had to be flown in to convince him to come out of the jungle.
MULTIMEDIA
Speech: General MacArthur
accepts Japan's surrender
Video Clip: General MacArthur
accepts Japan's surrender
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