Could Japan Have Won the Pacific War?

If the United States had undertaken Operation Downfall, Japan most likely would have been able to secure a peace treaty with the U.S. and end their conflict. What was the strategic thinking from Japan that thought this was possible? What was Operation Downfall, and why do we think it might have failed? Why would Japan have accepted a negotiated settlement and not the complete destruction of U.S. forces? This complicated scenario also places the use of atomic weapons in the historical context of the period. Join us in this engaging discussion exploring these questions and more.