My reading of the last week or so of the Japanese war was that it was a completely paralyzed system. That does not mean that a little patience on the part of the Allies might have paid off -- there were all sorts of crossed signals. And Russian entry into the war at the last minute didn't help.

It is of course the case that the Japanese appeared to be madmen -- after the kamikaze and the long fight up the Pacific Islands and then Iwo Jima, there was a pretty strong case to be made. I think the Allies couldn't fathom what would make the Japanese ever give up.

yours,

Peter T.