Why did the 1945 Japanese Army coup against the Emperor fail (Short Animated Documentary)
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Date: 2025-12-12
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Comments and reviews: 20
MaitlandJones
Doing a master's degree in Japanese military history. Interesting fact, Japan had a nuclear program, it was heavily underfunded and mostly an excuse by physicists to keep promising young scholars out of the fighting, but they had a nuclear program, two actually. One with the army and one with the navy. The nuclear scientists were consulted after the bombs were dropped, part of the reason why Japan's reaction was delayed was due to the nuclear scientists being skeptical of the US actually having a bomb. Some theorized that it was a new type of magnesium bomb. Some believed due to their own inability to enrich uranium in usable quantities that the US wouldn't have that many and the country could tank the hit and keep fighting. When an investigation team was sent to Hiroshima, there was an officer waiting for the team on the tarmac who showed where he was burned everywhere except where he wore white and said essentially, just wear white bro, the bombs aren't that bad. The science team would not share that man's optimism and collectively shit themselves when they realized that the blast was 100% a nuclear bomb, and they shat themselves harder when a second bomb his Nagasaki. In the chaos during the surrender, there was a case where an officer barged into the lead researcher's lab and asked how far along he was on making that nuke and that he'd be prepared to get him a nice hidden bunker to keep working on his research. When the scientist told him they'd not have a working nuke in 10 years the man was distraught. On one hand, the scientists might have delayed the surrender, on the other, I could see the military hand waving the bomb as a magnesium bomb had they not had a nuclear program.
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Doing a master's degree in Japanese military history. Interesting fact, Japan had a nuclear program, it was heavily underfunded and mostly an excuse by physicists to keep promising young scholars out of the fighting, but they had a nuclear program, two actually. One with the army and one with the navy. The nuclear scientists were consulted after the bombs were dropped, part of the reason why Japan's reaction was delayed was due to the nuclear scientists being skeptical of the US actually having a bomb. Some theorized that it was a new type of magnesium bomb. Some believed due to their own inability to enrich uranium in usable quantities that the US wouldn't have that many and the country could tank the hit and keep fighting. When an investigation team was sent to Hiroshima, there was an officer waiting for the team on the tarmac who showed where he was burned everywhere except where he wore white and said essentially, just wear white bro, the bombs aren't that bad. The science team would not share that man's optimism and collectively shit themselves when they realized that the blast was 100% a nuclear bomb, and they shat themselves harder when a second bomb his Nagasaki. In the chaos during the surrender, there was a case where an officer barged into the lead researcher's lab and asked how far along he was on making that nuke and that he'd be prepared to get him a nice hidden bunker to keep working on his research. When the scientist told him they'd not have a working nuke in 10 years the man was distraught. On one hand, the scientists might have delayed the surrender, on the other, I could see the military hand waving the bomb as a magnesium bomb had they not had a nuclear program.
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cozyandahalle
The coup failed because many in Japan had long been seeking a way to surrender without betraying the Emperor or causing Him to lose face. The bomb gave them that excuse. With the bomb, no scenario could be imagined where the Body of the Emperor, their god, could survive -- no matter how many Japanese died in suicide attacks to defend Him. Now, with the bomb, the Japanese could say they were surrendering not to save their own miserable lives, which belonged to the Emperor. and which should be eagerly sacrificed for Him -- in the same way so many other Japanese had already died in suicidal attacks and defenses across the Pacific. Now, instead of saving themselves, they were surrendering to save the Emperor. If the first duty of every Japanese was to protect the Emperor, this was the only way to do it. The coup, in this regard, could even be said to be treason against the Emperor, as a continuation of the war inevitably would have led to his ignominious death. At that moment (though perhaps not since) many Japanese likely said, Thank you, bomb. You have given us face-saving a way out of this madness.
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The coup failed because many in Japan had long been seeking a way to surrender without betraying the Emperor or causing Him to lose face. The bomb gave them that excuse. With the bomb, no scenario could be imagined where the Body of the Emperor, their god, could survive -- no matter how many Japanese died in suicide attacks to defend Him. Now, with the bomb, the Japanese could say they were surrendering not to save their own miserable lives, which belonged to the Emperor. and which should be eagerly sacrificed for Him -- in the same way so many other Japanese had already died in suicidal attacks and defenses across the Pacific. Now, instead of saving themselves, they were surrendering to save the Emperor. If the first duty of every Japanese was to protect the Emperor, this was the only way to do it. The coup, in this regard, could even be said to be treason against the Emperor, as a continuation of the war inevitably would have led to his ignominious death. At that moment (though perhaps not since) many Japanese likely said, Thank you, bomb. You have given us face-saving a way out of this madness.
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WraithTDK
We just can’t stand the shame! smhThe fact that they thought it’d be too shameful to face the music, but not too shameful to continue with countless war crimes, committed after being the ones to pull the US into the war in the first place by bombing Pearl Harbor, whilst in the middle of peace talks. Strange sense of shame.
We just wiped a city off the map with a single bomb. Surrender now.
Well, we can talk surrender, but our conditions for peace are
Hey, remember the last time we had a conversation bout conditions for peace, and you bombed us, when we weren’t even involved in the war yet Pepperidge Farms remembers, and so do we. We’re not doing that again. You had your chance to discuss terms. We’re not discussing anymore. You’re going to surrender with no conditions whatsoever, or we’re going to wipe you from the face of the earth.
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We just can’t stand the shame! smhThe fact that they thought it’d be too shameful to face the music, but not too shameful to continue with countless war crimes, committed after being the ones to pull the US into the war in the first place by bombing Pearl Harbor, whilst in the middle of peace talks. Strange sense of shame.
We just wiped a city off the map with a single bomb. Surrender now.
Well, we can talk surrender, but our conditions for peace are
Hey, remember the last time we had a conversation bout conditions for peace, and you bombed us, when we weren’t even involved in the war yet Pepperidge Farms remembers, and so do we. We’re not doing that again. You had your chance to discuss terms. We’re not discussing anymore. You’re going to surrender with no conditions whatsoever, or we’re going to wipe you from the face of the earth.
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chaseroberts3111
First off Japan did not unconditionally surrender like we all were taught in school and the atomic bombings were not the only reason Japan threw in the towel. Let's look at the facts, some American leaders were scared shtless about invading Japan and the American public had grown weary and would not have accepted the enormous causalities it would have incurred. We were so afraid we begged the Soviet Union to enter the war and incur the balk of the losses, which would have meant a partial to full occupation of Japan by the soviets. The three concessions we gave to Japan were1. we would not touch the emperor. 2. that only one nation would occupy Japan and they would not be carved up by the allies. 3. the occupation would only last as long as the allies installed a new government(official occupation lasted until 1950.
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First off Japan did not unconditionally surrender like we all were taught in school and the atomic bombings were not the only reason Japan threw in the towel. Let's look at the facts, some American leaders were scared shtless about invading Japan and the American public had grown weary and would not have accepted the enormous causalities it would have incurred. We were so afraid we begged the Soviet Union to enter the war and incur the balk of the losses, which would have meant a partial to full occupation of Japan by the soviets. The three concessions we gave to Japan were1. we would not touch the emperor. 2. that only one nation would occupy Japan and they would not be carved up by the allies. 3. the occupation would only last as long as the allies installed a new government(official occupation lasted until 1950.
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history_matters
The One Thing you Presume is that just by saying Fine, you can Keep the Emperor, the Japanese would calm down. Japan was by wholesale- a Nation that Worshiped it's Head of State as a god, and were by-and-large Willing to Die for their Deity. That's why Hiroshima and Nagasaki had to (unfortunately) fall with Atomic weapons. The Devastation was to Save Lives: 225, 000 to 250, 000 Civilians with Two Weapons on Two Separate Days, or 2, 500, 000 Civilians over a Year to Year-and-a-Half America Warned the Japanese People to get to safety, but the warnings weren't heeded. Truman had No Good Options, and he chose the lesser-of-two-evils out of the War. The Japanese had to be made to break- to bring an end to the Worst Global Conflict in Human History.
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The One Thing you Presume is that just by saying Fine, you can Keep the Emperor, the Japanese would calm down. Japan was by wholesale- a Nation that Worshiped it's Head of State as a god, and were by-and-large Willing to Die for their Deity. That's why Hiroshima and Nagasaki had to (unfortunately) fall with Atomic weapons. The Devastation was to Save Lives: 225, 000 to 250, 000 Civilians with Two Weapons on Two Separate Days, or 2, 500, 000 Civilians over a Year to Year-and-a-Half America Warned the Japanese People to get to safety, but the warnings weren't heeded. Truman had No Good Options, and he chose the lesser-of-two-evils out of the War. The Japanese had to be made to break- to bring an end to the Worst Global Conflict in Human History.
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thryce82
So Japanese of that time were generally cool with hyper nationalism which led to full on genocide. Yet I am suppose to feel bad because my ancestors dropped enough payloads to get them to make them regret it Nah. Just annoying how it's framed now like Americans did sth wrong. Japanese took Chinese and Koreans as actual slaves yet we are suppose to feel guiltyfor bombing them When they conquered they murdered and it took them what 50 years to apologize to the Koreans Personal level it's horrible to be bombed societal level. they got a small tassttte of what they deserved and the fact we didn't do massive war crimes trials against them for their actions in Asia is horrific.
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So Japanese of that time were generally cool with hyper nationalism which led to full on genocide. Yet I am suppose to feel bad because my ancestors dropped enough payloads to get them to make them regret it Nah. Just annoying how it's framed now like Americans did sth wrong. Japanese took Chinese and Koreans as actual slaves yet we are suppose to feel guiltyfor bombing them When they conquered they murdered and it took them what 50 years to apologize to the Koreans Personal level it's horrible to be bombed societal level. they got a small tassttte of what they deserved and the fact we didn't do massive war crimes trials against them for their actions in Asia is horrific.
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paulsoldner9500
To be fair, if Japan had unconditionally surrendered BEFORE the USSR had got involved, they would have been treated like Germany (totally destroyed, culture & history permanently annihilated, permanent occupation first by the allies then by the third world, sham trials followed by executions for everyone and their mother.
By not answering and delaying surrender to the last min, they managed to get in JUST as the USSR was turning on the USA and so the USA needed an ally against the Soviets.
Unfortunately, it also cost almost a million civilian lives when Harry Truman and his buddies decided to wipe out the last bastions of Christianity in the country for funsies.
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To be fair, if Japan had unconditionally surrendered BEFORE the USSR had got involved, they would have been treated like Germany (totally destroyed, culture & history permanently annihilated, permanent occupation first by the allies then by the third world, sham trials followed by executions for everyone and their mother.
By not answering and delaying surrender to the last min, they managed to get in JUST as the USSR was turning on the USA and so the USA needed an ally against the Soviets.
Unfortunately, it also cost almost a million civilian lives when Harry Truman and his buddies decided to wipe out the last bastions of Christianity in the country for funsies.
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robertglennienz
Well done for mentioning the Soviet Union declared war. Others have completely ignored this.
Not so well done for failing to mention the Yalta Conference in February 1945 when Stalin made a promise to declare war on Japan 90 days after Germany surrendered, nor the fact that the U. S. S. R. terminated their neutrality pact with Japan in April 1945 when it became obvious that the Nazi regime had only weeks to live.
Not so well done for completely failing to mention the simultaneous 1. 2m soldier invasion of Manchuria that started at the same time and made it into the Korean Peninsula and the outer islands of Japan.
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Well done for mentioning the Soviet Union declared war. Others have completely ignored this.
Not so well done for failing to mention the Yalta Conference in February 1945 when Stalin made a promise to declare war on Japan 90 days after Germany surrendered, nor the fact that the U. S. S. R. terminated their neutrality pact with Japan in April 1945 when it became obvious that the Nazi regime had only weeks to live.
Not so well done for completely failing to mention the simultaneous 1. 2m soldier invasion of Manchuria that started at the same time and made it into the Korean Peninsula and the outer islands of Japan.
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Rorschachqp
Not once but twice it’s mentioned that the general populace supported the war. The German doctrine was to kill one hated group but unite everyone else, German-speakers first. Japan was like, kill everyone, kill even ourselves.
This is why the US must never leave Japan on its own. There’s something inherently wrong with their culture. I’ve met so many Japanese people that are US citizens. They are some of the most chill and relaxed people around. It’s something with the culture. One great thing the US did for the peoples of the Pacific rim was to confiscate all of the swords of the Japanese.
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Not once but twice it’s mentioned that the general populace supported the war. The German doctrine was to kill one hated group but unite everyone else, German-speakers first. Japan was like, kill everyone, kill even ourselves.
This is why the US must never leave Japan on its own. There’s something inherently wrong with their culture. I’ve met so many Japanese people that are US citizens. They are some of the most chill and relaxed people around. It’s something with the culture. One great thing the US did for the peoples of the Pacific rim was to confiscate all of the swords of the Japanese.
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JarodFarrant
2: 34 however Japan at this time was literally starving. The merchant fleet was devastated by the allied aerial and naval attacks. Japanese people were literally starving. There was mass famine, military, and industrial production was as lowest it’s ever been not just from our lie aerial attacks, but from lack of supplies coming in from the ships, it didn’t help that the ally is reminding the waters of Japan. If the allies really didn’t invade, did the people even have the stomach to fight literally it’s hard to fight when there’s a famine going on and military production is crumbling down.
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2: 34 however Japan at this time was literally starving. The merchant fleet was devastated by the allied aerial and naval attacks. Japanese people were literally starving. There was mass famine, military, and industrial production was as lowest it’s ever been not just from our lie aerial attacks, but from lack of supplies coming in from the ships, it didn’t help that the ally is reminding the waters of Japan. If the allies really didn’t invade, did the people even have the stomach to fight literally it’s hard to fight when there’s a famine going on and military production is crumbling down.
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whatever_debate
Thank you for the insightful explanation. I agree that the Pacific War was shaped not only by Japan’s technological, military, and diplomatic issues, but also by the Samurai ethos that deeply influenced its society.
Interestingly, recent studies suggest that Emperor Hirohito may not have been the passive figure many believed him to be. Some researchers argue that he possessed a deeper understanding of the war and played a more active role in its decisions than traditionally acknowledged.
Thanks again for sharing your perspectivethis discussion has been very informative.
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Thank you for the insightful explanation. I agree that the Pacific War was shaped not only by Japan’s technological, military, and diplomatic issues, but also by the Samurai ethos that deeply influenced its society.
Interestingly, recent studies suggest that Emperor Hirohito may not have been the passive figure many believed him to be. Some researchers argue that he possessed a deeper understanding of the war and played a more active role in its decisions than traditionally acknowledged.
Thanks again for sharing your perspectivethis discussion has been very informative.
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history_matters
0: 26 What I don't see get mentioned often is that the speech was made in an archaic dialect of Japanese. So when the Japanese people heard the voice of the Emperor for the first time, most couldn't fully understand what he was saying!
0: 30 There were only two documented instances of desperate no-return attacks called Banzai charges by Americans, on the battles for the islands of Attu and Saipan. They were not frequent for the Empreror melee charges as most films and video games would have you believe.
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0: 26 What I don't see get mentioned often is that the speech was made in an archaic dialect of Japanese. So when the Japanese people heard the voice of the Emperor for the first time, most couldn't fully understand what he was saying!
0: 30 There were only two documented instances of desperate no-return attacks called Banzai charges by Americans, on the battles for the islands of Attu and Saipan. They were not frequent for the Empreror melee charges as most films and video games would have you believe.
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Redmenace96
I read a book detailing the coup and surrender. The motivations of the principal actors is so complex and layered with self-delusions that I couldn't figure out who wanted what. I kinda gave up and just plowed through it. Learned almost nothing.
The whole Emporer not talking, but sometimes talking through an envoy was just a crazy system of leadership. If you spoke for the Emporer it could be true, or it could not be true- and nobody could dispute it.
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I read a book detailing the coup and surrender. The motivations of the principal actors is so complex and layered with self-delusions that I couldn't figure out who wanted what. I kinda gave up and just plowed through it. Learned almost nothing.
The whole Emporer not talking, but sometimes talking through an envoy was just a crazy system of leadership. If you spoke for the Emporer it could be true, or it could not be true- and nobody could dispute it.
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mattphoenix4702
The funny thing is that the Japanese never actually repelled Kublai Khan’s invasion.
Kami Kaze is Divine Wind. Both Khan’s invasion fleets were destroyed by Typhoons and never landed an army on Japanese soil.
Their destruction led to a belief that the gods had blessed Japan and that the Emperor was divinely appointed and protected them from outsiders.
Huge swathes of Japanese culture were created by two really lucky Tropical Storms
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The funny thing is that the Japanese never actually repelled Kublai Khan’s invasion.
Kami Kaze is Divine Wind. Both Khan’s invasion fleets were destroyed by Typhoons and never landed an army on Japanese soil.
Their destruction led to a belief that the gods had blessed Japan and that the Emperor was divinely appointed and protected them from outsiders.
Huge swathes of Japanese culture were created by two really lucky Tropical Storms
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FrostReave
Imagine being a ruler who's subordinates are out of control, you learn you are fighting literally the world. The rest of the world is VERY angrily surrounding your homeland and threatening to burn the whole thing unless you bow. Then after you refuse they literally turn 2 of your cities into dust and still have these idiot subordinates screeching Its a trick we can win. NEVER SURRENDER THERES NO WAY THIS COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
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Imagine being a ruler who's subordinates are out of control, you learn you are fighting literally the world. The rest of the world is VERY angrily surrounding your homeland and threatening to burn the whole thing unless you bow. Then after you refuse they literally turn 2 of your cities into dust and still have these idiot subordinates screeching Its a trick we can win. NEVER SURRENDER THERES NO WAY THIS COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
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onenote6619
Well, you know, if the Japanese Armed forces could have won the war, they had plenty of time to get that done. But the reality was that every part of the Japanese government and armed forces were lying to every other part about the actual situation. Several parts had overtly attempted to stick knives - literally - in their opposite numbers. The surrender was as dysfunctional as the preceding war.
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Well, you know, if the Japanese Armed forces could have won the war, they had plenty of time to get that done. But the reality was that every part of the Japanese government and armed forces were lying to every other part about the actual situation. Several parts had overtly attempted to stick knives - literally - in their opposite numbers. The surrender was as dysfunctional as the preceding war.
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userofthetube2701
Some of the proceeds of the capture of the Silver Fleet were used for the siege of Den Bosch that was being held by the Spanish. The city was surrounded by swamps and strong fortifications and was generally considered impregnable. However with this financial windfall, the Dutch, as they are wont to do, constructed a series of windmills to drain the swamps and captured the city.
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Some of the proceeds of the capture of the Silver Fleet were used for the siege of Den Bosch that was being held by the Spanish. The city was surrounded by swamps and strong fortifications and was generally considered impregnable. However with this financial windfall, the Dutch, as they are wont to do, constructed a series of windmills to drain the swamps and captured the city.
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history_matters
Japan was not going to surrender if the emperor was included in the potsdam declaration. If anything, that would have been seen as a sign of faltering resolve by the military. Without the complete collapse of their position on the mainland via the soviet intervention and the double whammy of two nukes and impending american invasion Japan would be germany taken to 100
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Japan was not going to surrender if the emperor was included in the potsdam declaration. If anything, that would have been seen as a sign of faltering resolve by the military. Without the complete collapse of their position on the mainland via the soviet intervention and the double whammy of two nukes and impending american invasion Japan would be germany taken to 100
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cliftondaigle7345
You would think that seeing the effects of having the sun unleashed on your people twice would make you want to automatically cry uncle. But, no. They just come up with the idea of that's all they have. From the attack on Pearl Harbour to the days leading up to the surrender the military geniuses of Japan were making all the wrong/highly miscalculated decisions.
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You would think that seeing the effects of having the sun unleashed on your people twice would make you want to automatically cry uncle. But, no. They just come up with the idea of that's all they have. From the attack on Pearl Harbour to the days leading up to the surrender the military geniuses of Japan were making all the wrong/highly miscalculated decisions.
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history_matters
The iromy is there people trying to overthrow him to this point publicly declaring they only follow the emperors orders. which to a point is true (im sorry but hirihito was as big a war criminal as anyone) but they would not sudrender at any cost. they failed only cause hirihitos supporters were loyal to the myth of who he as the emperor suppsdley was.
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The iromy is there people trying to overthrow him to this point publicly declaring they only follow the emperors orders. which to a point is true (im sorry but hirihito was as big a war criminal as anyone) but they would not sudrender at any cost. they failed only cause hirihitos supporters were loyal to the myth of who he as the emperor suppsdley was.
reply
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