How did American and Japan react politically and emotionally toward the bombings?
Views and reactions of the atomic bomb
Japan and the United States had very different views during World War II. Aside from being adversaries, they also conflicted on how and what could be used in the war. With the Pearl Harbor attack and the birth of the atom bomb their views changed even more. Both Japan and the United States rallied their people with propaganda as their governments tried to appease their citizens, and after the bombings these views only escalated.
United States propaganda
The attack on Pearl Harbor lead to a lot of propaganda against Japan in the United States. Propaganda was directed to target the emotions of Americans since emotions were more effective in getting Americans motivated to attack back.4 The propaganda displayed after Pearl Harbor gave Japanese many degrading nicknames such as “yellow”, “yellow monkeys”, and “little yellow dwarf slaves”.5 Americans viewed Japanese as inferior compared to them. An example of this is the historian Arthur Marder who viewed Japanese fighter pilots as inferior due to their “eye slits” claiming that they could not see in the dark well nor could they shoot well.6 The propaganda against Japanese also characterized the Japanese to resemble an animal, in most cases monkeys.7 Most of this display used thick outlines and dark colors to create a fearful image. Not only did it describe the Japanese in this discriminating way, but it imprinted on the American people to “Remember December 7” and to “Avenge December 7”.8 This of course motivated Americans to feel hatred towards the Japanese. The purpose of propaganda against the Japanese was to create fear and imprint the thought that the Japanese needed to be stopped before more lives were lost.
Japanese propaganda
Like America, the Japanese also provided their people with propaganda. The Japanese propaganda was targeted against the United States, European countries, and Asian countries.9 Some of the propaganda displayed motivated their people to “Fire and Never Quit!”. Their propaganda would show a soldier running over the American flag and inspired the people to join the war. Japanese propaganda was also racist towards the enemy.10 They displayed Americans and British as hairy and demonic. Other propaganda against the United States portrayed how America was not as powerful as it may have seemed.11
Like America, the Japanese also provided their people with propaganda. The Japanese propaganda was targeted against the United States, European countries, and Asian countries.9 Some of the propaganda displayed motivated their people to “Fire and Never Quit!”. Their propaganda would show a soldier running over the American flag and inspired the people to join the war. Japanese propaganda was also racist towards the enemy.10 They displayed Americans and British as hairy and demonic. Other propaganda against the United States portrayed how America was not as powerful as it may have seemed.11
United States reaction
After the attack on Pearl Harbor fear plagued the American people, disbelief of such an attack placed the nation in panic.12 With war ending in Europe, the attack took everyone by surprise. Truman had just taken the role of President after Roosevelt’s death, completely unaware of the atomic bomb which had been under construction under President Roosevelt.13 The decision to deploy the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki derived from the idea that they were of industrial and military importance, and it would also claim the least lives.14 Under the jurisdiction of President Truman the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The annihilation of thousands and destruction of the Hiroshima was one welcomed by many citizens of the United States. As a whole, the United States had no guilt or remorse towards the damages.15 On August 9, 1954 Truman reflected on the detonation of the atomic bomb, Little Boy, as something that needed to be done in order to end the war and give warning to Japan to surrender.16 The second bomb, Fat Man, was then detonated over Nagasaki that same day, forcing Japan to surrender in August 14, 1945. Truman attempted to justify his actions and the deaths of the many Japanese under his choices.17 Most Americans were relieved that the war had come to an end and cared little for those affected. Under the Treaty of San Francisco, the United States demanded that Japan retracted on their views on the bombings, agreeing that the United States had justified reasons.18
After the attack on Pearl Harbor fear plagued the American people, disbelief of such an attack placed the nation in panic.12 With war ending in Europe, the attack took everyone by surprise. Truman had just taken the role of President after Roosevelt’s death, completely unaware of the atomic bomb which had been under construction under President Roosevelt.13 The decision to deploy the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki derived from the idea that they were of industrial and military importance, and it would also claim the least lives.14 Under the jurisdiction of President Truman the first bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The annihilation of thousands and destruction of the Hiroshima was one welcomed by many citizens of the United States. As a whole, the United States had no guilt or remorse towards the damages.15 On August 9, 1954 Truman reflected on the detonation of the atomic bomb, Little Boy, as something that needed to be done in order to end the war and give warning to Japan to surrender.16 The second bomb, Fat Man, was then detonated over Nagasaki that same day, forcing Japan to surrender in August 14, 1945. Truman attempted to justify his actions and the deaths of the many Japanese under his choices.17 Most Americans were relieved that the war had come to an end and cared little for those affected. Under the Treaty of San Francisco, the United States demanded that Japan retracted on their views on the bombings, agreeing that the United States had justified reasons.18
Japan's reaction
On August 6, 1945 the first atomic bomb was dropped, it was named Little Boy and it aimed to hit the city of Hiroshima. It detonated above Hiroshima, killing about 70,000 people instantly, but the death toll is believed to have reached over 130,000.19 The Japanese government sent a protest letter through the Swiss government asserting the bombings stating that, "The US has ignored the fundamental principle of international law and humanity…”.20 Japan believed the United States had used a weapon that exceeded any weapon of the time, and one that was inhumane.21 Even after the atomic bomb Little boy had been dropped, claiming thousands in damage and lives, Japan still decided not to surrender. During a lawsuit case filed against the Japanese government by five survivors of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan changed its view and decided to fully approve the bombings, changing their claim and agreeing that what America did was permissible and needed in order to win the war.22
On August 6, 1945 the first atomic bomb was dropped, it was named Little Boy and it aimed to hit the city of Hiroshima. It detonated above Hiroshima, killing about 70,000 people instantly, but the death toll is believed to have reached over 130,000.19 The Japanese government sent a protest letter through the Swiss government asserting the bombings stating that, "The US has ignored the fundamental principle of international law and humanity…”.20 Japan believed the United States had used a weapon that exceeded any weapon of the time, and one that was inhumane.21 Even after the atomic bomb Little boy had been dropped, claiming thousands in damage and lives, Japan still decided not to surrender. During a lawsuit case filed against the Japanese government by five survivors of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan changed its view and decided to fully approve the bombings, changing their claim and agreeing that what America did was permissible and needed in order to win the war.22