The Warning

Before America dropped the bomb on Japan they asked Japan to surrender unconditionally but they refused. The concept of Yamato-Damashii, a strict code, was ingrained in each soldier: never be captured, never break down, and never surrender. U.S. sent a warning to Japan that they would be dropping a massive bomb that would destroy the city but they didn't think anything of it so they allowed the U.S. to drop the bomb. The U.S. gave Japan three days to surrender before dropping the second bomb on Nagasaki yet Japan still let it happen.

Harry S. Truman said in his speech, "The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians. But that attack is only a warning of things to come. If Japan does not surrender, bombs will have to be dropped on her war industries and, unfortunately, thousands of civilian lives will be lost. I urge Japanese civilians to leave industrial cities immediately, and save themselves from destruction."


The leaflet sent to Japanese cities states, " Read this carefully as it may save your life or the life of a relative or friend. In the next few days, some or all of the cities named on the reverse side will be destroyed by American bombs. These cities contain military installations and workshops or factories which produce military goods. We are determined to destroy all of the tools of the military clique which they are using to prolong this useless war. But, unfortunately, bombs have no eyes. So, in accordance with America's humanitarian policies, the American Air Force, which does not wish to injure innocent people, now gives you warning to evacuate the cities named and save your lives. America is not fighting the Japanese people but is fighting the military clique which has enslaved the Japanese people. The peace which America will bring will free the people from the oppression of the military clique and mean the emergence of a new and better Japan. You can restore peace by demanding new and good leaders who will end the war. We cannot promise that only these cities will be among those attacked but some or all of them will be, so heed this warning and evacuate these cities immediately. "