Table of Contents
Why were Japanese casualties so high?
The biggest factor in high casualty rate for Japanese was because of their Senjinkun military code based on “No-Surrender”. Even when facing impossible odds, Japanese would rather kill themselves or launch suicide attacks than surrendering1. You might have noticed that Japanese POWs were in a very low number.
How many Japanese would have died if we invaded Japan?
A study done for Secretary of War Henry Stimson’s staff by William Shockley estimated that invading Japan would cost 1.7–4 million American casualties, including 400,000–800,000 fatalities, and five to ten million Japanese fatalities.
Why did Japanese soldiers not surrender?
It was a war without mercy, and the US Office of War Information acknowledged as much in 1945. It noted that the unwillingness of Allied troops to take prisoners in the Pacific theatre had made it difficult for Japanese soldiers to surrender.
Did the Japanese execute POWs?
The POWs who were accused of committing serious crimes or those who tried to escape were prosecuted at the Japanese Army Court Martial and sent to prison for Japanese criminals, many were executed in front of their fellow POWs.
What are some examples of Japanese war crimes?
Outside Japan, different societies use widely different timeframes in defining Japanese war crimes. For example, the annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910 was enforced by the Japanese military, and the Society of Yi Dynasty Korea was switched to the political system of the Empire of Japan.
When did Japan apologize for its war crimes?
Since the 1950s, senior Japanese government officials have issued numerous apologies for the country’s war crimes.
Are there any untouchables in the Japanese society?
Japan has a reputation of being a homogeneous, mostly harmonious society. There are few foreigners, linguistic differences are rare and on the surface class distinctions are largely absent. But, as Mike Sunda discovered, there is one, often hidden, exception: Japan’s untouchables.
How many Japanese died in World War 2?
Although Japan was heavily involved in World War II, it is estimated that only 2.5-3.1 million Japanese were killed in the war, representing only 3.5% of its pre-war population. Of the country’s total casualties, about 2.1 million were military personnel while 500,000-800,000 were civilians.