Killing the Rising Sun Summary

Should the most destructive weapon known to mankind have been used to bring the most brutal war to an end?

The Catalyst: Pearl Harbor and the U.S. Entry into World War II

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, forced the United States into World War II. This surprise assault destroyed much of the US Pacific Fleet and killed nearly 2,500 Americans. With no prior precedent of such an attack on American soil, public opinion shifted overnight, leading to a declaration of war against Japan.

Japan’s aggressive expansionism in the Pacific had been evident before this event. Motivated by a desire to dominate the Asia-Pacific region, Japan launched invasions throughout East Asia, creating tensions with Western powers. When negotiations failed to prevent aggression, Pearl Harbor became their decisive strike to weaken American resistance.

The attack, though a tactical success in the short term for Japan, unified the American people in their resolve to win the war. This led to the integration of U.S. military and industrial efforts into the broader Allied campaign, ultimately changing the course of the war.

Examples

• The attack destroyed or damaged 19 naval ships, including eight battleships.
• President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously referred to it as "a date which will live in infamy."
• America deployed its economic might through the Lend-Lease Act, providing resources to Allies and ramping up its own war readiness.

Japanese Devotion to the Emperor and the Code of Bushido

Japanese soldiers’ refusal to surrender throughout the Pacific theater was rooted in their cultural ethos. They followed the Bushido code, which equated surrender with dishonor. This samurai-inspired belief led to devastating confrontations for Allied forces.

The devotion of Japanese troops extended to the belief that their Emperor, Hirohito, was divine. Fighting for him wasn’t just a military duty but a religious one. Coupled with their goal of uniting Asia under "eight crown cords under one roof," their fanaticism brought atrocities upon captured territories.

The unimaginable casualties during battles like Peleliu and Okinawa reflect this mindset. Japanese soldiers often fought to the death or committed suicide rather than risk capture, prolonging the conflict and increasing human suffering on both sides.

Examples

• At Peleliu, a battle expected to last a few days extended three months, costing over 6,500 American lives.
• Japanese military executed prisoners of war and raped tens of thousands of civilians, exemplified in the Nanking Massacre.
• Kamikaze pilots during the war willingly crashed into Allied ships as a final act of loyalty.

The Barbarity of Japanese War Crimes

The Japanese military regime carried out horrific atrocities across East Asia during their expansion. The campaigns in regions like Shanghai and Nanking resulted in massacres, sexual violence, and dehumanization of the local populace.

The 1937 Rape of Nanking is among the most well-documented examples of Japanese war crimes. Japanese forces killed tens of thousands of civilians, systematically raped women, and decimated infrastructure to create terror. Similar stories emerged from other conquered territories.

Such acts underscored Japan’s determination to dominate through both military and psychological tactics. This approach encouraged the Allies, including the United States, to persist in their cause, ultimately aiming for Japan's unconditional surrender.

Examples

• An estimated 300,000 civilians were killed in Nanking, and 80,000 women were raped.
• Contests between Japanese officers involving the decapitation of prisoners were reported in newspapers.
• The attack on Pearl Harbor exemplified exploitation of unpreparedness by targeting American sailors early on a Sunday morning.

The Manhattan Project: Science Meets Warfare

The development of the atomic bomb during World War II was a monumental achievement in science and warfare. The Manhattan Project, spearheaded by physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, became a race against German and Japanese scientists also working on nuclear weapons.

This secret project in the United States included relentless research and testing, culminating in the successful Trinity test on July 16, 1945, in New Mexico. The explosion highlighted the bomb’s unprecedented destructive potential, measuring equivalent to 19,000 tons of TNT.

The project’s urgency reflected the Allies' fear of what would happen if Axis powers acquired nuclear capabilities first. The weapon became a game-changer, offering the United States a way to end the war with fewer Allied casualties than a mainland invasion.

Examples

• Over $2 billion was invested in the Manhattan Project.
• Physicists like Enrico Fermi and Oppenheimer collaborated to refine nuclear fission processes.
• The Trinity blast left a glassy crater and was visible for miles, signaling the dawn of a new era.

Hiroshima: The Shadow of Little Boy

Hiroshima became the first city to experience an atomic bomb's devastating power on August 6, 1945. Despite warnings issued through pamphlets and Truman’s ultimatum, Japan’s leadership, driven by pride, refused to yield.

The bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy," eradicated the city within seconds. An estimated 70,000 people died instantaneously, with countless others suffering long-term illnesses from radiation exposure. Survivors faced misery, disfigurement, and social stigma in a scorched landscape.

This bombing shocked the world. No warfare tactic before or since has matched its immediate, calamitous impact. Yet, Hirohito and his generals did not signal any intention of surrender in response to this unprecedented crisis.

Examples

• A one-mile radius around ground zero turned into ashes.
• Survivors reported horrific burns and thermal radiation effects.
• Pilots aboard the Enola Gay noted witnessing the mushroom cloud in silence, realizing the magnitude of their mission.

Nagasaki and the Second Blast

Despite Hiroshima’s destruction, Japan’s leaders showed no indications of surrender. On August 9, 1945, the United States answered with a second strike over Nagasaki, using a bomb called "Fat Man."

This bomb’s impact was even deadlier per square mile, immediately killing 45,000 civilians and injuring another 60,000. Though Nagasaki was not the original target (cloud cover redirected the bombing run), the city’s torpedo plant and war-related industries marked it as militarily significant.

The double blow was a strategic and psychological signal that Japan couldn’t continue the war. Yet, Emperor Hirohito’s silence persisted while his people suffered.

Examples

• The decision to bomb Nagasaki followed the Soviet Union’s invasion of Manchuria.
• Survivors experienced severe burns, disfigurements, and emotional trauma due to radiation exposure.
• Fat Man had a stronger blast radius due to more advanced plutonium design.

Truman’s Choice to End the War

President Harry Truman made the controversial decision to use atomic weapons to avoid prolonged bloodshed. With an invasion strategy estimated to bring millions of casualties, the bombs were seen as a tool to force Japan's surrender quickly.

Still, debates surrounded this decision. Some argued for continued conventional bombing or tighter blockades instead of deploying a weapon with such catastrophic humanitarian consequences. For Truman, though, ending the Pacific campaign took priority.

His post-war reflections revealed his belief that he had saved lives on both sides by opting for the atomic bomb, though the ethical debate persists to this day.

Examples

• The planned Operation Downfall projected over one million Allied and Japanese deaths from a ground invasion.
• Truman sought Japan's unconditional surrender yet negotiated Hirohito’s retention as Emperor post-surrender.
• Nuremberg-like trials against Japanese officials further showcased responsibility for atrocities.

Japan’s Reluctant Surrender

Even after two atomic bombings and the Soviet Union’s entrance into the war, Japan’s surrender wasn’t immediate. The stigma around capitulation as dishonorable hindered peace efforts.

Anxiety over war crime tribunals also delayed Japan’s leadership from accepting Allied terms. However, on August 15, 1945, Hirohito addressed his nation, agreeing to surrender while maintaining symbolic authority.

This marked the end of World War II’s bloodshed, unleashing celebrations worldwide and initiating the reconstruction of Japan as a peaceful nation under U.S. guidance.

Examples

• War trials executed several Japanese leaders like General Hideki Tojo but spared Hirohito for political stability.
• American occupation democratized Japan and rebuilt its infrastructure.
• The formal surrender was signed aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945.

Takeaways

1. Study the implications of military decisions through their human, moral, and long-term lenses to discern better choices in leadership.
2. Remember the devastating human toll of war to better advocate for peaceful resolutions in conflicts.
3. Regular reflection on ethics in technological innovation ensures such advancements prioritize humanity over destruction.