Japan’s Underground
General Swing made General Pierson commander of the 187th and 188th joint group which became known as the Miyagi Task Force. They set up their headquarters in an insurance company building in Sendai. The principle responsibility of the Miyagi Task Force was to collect and destroy all arms, munitions and armament factories. They were also charged with seeing that General MacArthur’s edicts were all carried out. Many of the military installations had underground tunnels filled with drill presses and machine tools of all types. The entire zone needed to be demilitarized and equipment destroyed. Colonel Tipton discovered a submarine base for the two-man subs and a small group of men still guarding them. They told the colonel that they just wanted to go home.
The Japanese mainland was still potentially a colossal armed camp, and there was an obvious military gamble in landing with only two and a half divisions, then confronted by fifty-nine Japanese divisions, thirty-six brigades, and forty-five-odd regiments plus naval and air forces.
On a hillside overlooking a field where students play volleyball, an inconspicuous entrance leads down a slope—and seemingly back in time—to Japan’s secret Imperial Navy headquarters in the final months of World War II. Here, Japan’s navy leaders made plans for the fiercest battles from late 1944 to the war’s end in August 1945. The navy commanders went rushing to the underground command center whenever US B-29 bombers flew over. The tunnel had ventilation ducts, a battery room, food storage with ample stock of sake, and deciphering and communications departments.
Considerable stocks of war equipment were dispersed amid the tangled masses of fire blackened girders, in thousands of caches located deep in the hills, in carefully constructed tunnels and warehouses, and over miles of Japanese landscape. Along the shores near the great ports, there remained many permanent fortresses. Japan’s frantic preparations for a last ditch stand against invasion resulted in numerous hastily built coastal defenses. (Plate No. 41) The majority of these coastal defenses were manned by brigades. The larger and more permanent installations were equipped with heavy artillery and were concentrated in strategic locations such as the peninsula which forms Tokyo Bay, the northern entrance to the Inland Sea, the southern tip of Kyushu, and the coastline around Fukuoka. Almost three hundred airfields, ranging from bomber and supply strips to “Kamikaze” strips, sheltered some 6,000 Japanese combat aircraft capable of providing air cover and close support for the ground and naval forces. (Plate No. 42) Japanese arsenals, munitions factories, steel plants, aircraft factories, and ordnance depots were widely scattered throughout the country. Japanese naval vessels consisting of carriers, battleships, destroyers, submarines, and auxiliary and maintenance craft were anchored in all of the major ports.
In the Sixth Army zone during the month of November 1945, at least ten ports were in operation, and approximately 4,500 tons of ammunition were disposed of daily.
Records later indicated that actually some 2,468,665 rifles and carbines were received by the Occupation forces and later disposed of. The Japanese reported more artillery ammunition than small arms ammunition. Ammunition for the grenade launcher, often known as the “knee mortar,” was also more plentiful; some 51,000,000 rounds were reported, or an average of 1,794 rounds for each weapon.
a check on the police stations in Aomori, Hirosaki, and Sambongi (all towns in Aomori Prefecture) produced some 1,880 rifles, 1,881 bayonets, 18 light machine guns, 505,260 rounds of rifle and machine gun ammunition, 46,980 rounds of blank ammunition, one case of TNT, and 150 military swords. Daily G-2 and CIC reports revealed many instances of smaller caches, sometimes in school compounds.
The Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters (松代大本営跡, Matsushiro Daihon’ei Ato, “Matsushiro Imperial Headquarters Site”) was a large underground bunker complex built during WWII in the town of Matsushiro which is now a suburb of Nagano, Japan. The facility was constructed so that the central organs of government of Imperial Japan could be transferred there. In its construction, three mountains that were symbolic of the Matsushiro municipality were damaged.
Approximately seven million armed men, including those in the outlying theaters, had laid down their weapons. In the accomplishment of the extraordinarily difficult and dangerous surrender of Japan, unique in the annals of history, not a shot was necessary, not even a drop of Allied blood was shed.
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Humor –
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Quarantine Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Nancy Binetti – Roselle, NJ; Civilian, WWII, Canden Shipyards
Juan M. Covarrubias – Hanford, CA; US Army, Iraq, Spc., 1/227/1st Air Calvary Division, KIA
Robert Drake (100) – Pueblo, CO; US Army, WWII, ETO
John Hilty – MD; US Army, Iraq, Sgt. 1st Class, 1/227 Aviation Regiment/ 1/1st Calvary Division, KIA
Glenn Kraft – Cumberland, WI; US Navy, WWII, PTO, pilot
Eldon “Pounce” Musgrave – Athens, OH; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO, B-24 crewman
Marshall Roberts – OK; Oklahoma Air National Guard, Iraq, SSgt., KIA
Vera Schapps (106) – NYC, NY; Civilian, WWII, Air Raid Warden
Bob Underwood – DeWitt, AR; US Air Force, Korea, Sgt. (Airman 1st Class), Medic / Red Cross, Baptist Minister
Jennie Zito – Thompson’s Station, TN; Civilian, WWII, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft
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Posted on May 11, 2020, in Post WWII, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 1940's, Army, Bunkers, History, Japan, Military, Pacific, USA, veterans, WW2, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 131 Comments.
This is an amazing part of the history of Imperial Japan that was totally new to me–thanks so much for sharing this with us, GP. Your research has been truly enlightening. Keep up the great work!
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Thank you, Steve. I feel the same about your site. It seems most people only remember JFK when it comes to PT boats – so keep them in the light!
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Fantastic piece of history gp, wonder if there is an English publication of this article, who knows maybe down the track of time, this same scenario might be reenacted, only this time with China, thank Heavens for the pleasures of old age.
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This wasn’t even well advertised in England, but I’m sure the BBC should have something on it.
We can only guess what the heck China is up to any day of the week.
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thank you its great
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Heel interessante post en wat jij er toch fantastisch veel over.Graag gelezen
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Ik waardeer je bezoek, Mary Lou.
Ik heb het de laatste tijd erg druk gehad, dus ik hoop dat je veilig was tijdens deze grieppandemie.
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I wish “following” you meant I actually got notice when you publish posts…. I love that you keep so much fading detail of history alive! Thank you….
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I should, at least, appear on the Reader page – correct? I know your posts appear on my Reader.
Thank you for your interest, history has gotten to be a forgotten subject these days.
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The things you learn.
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So true.
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LOL. Yes, Matsushiro. Dang, these Japanese names are hard to remember! 😄
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🙂
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GP, very interesting. First time I heard of Japan’s underground tunnels. Thank you!
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You are very welcome.
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Oooooooo
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I hope that means you found the post interesting.
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Boggles the mind to imagine that much ammunition.
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And how much weaponry was taken by our men for souvenirs? Jeez!!
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Exactly!
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Yes, I bet they all just wanted it to be over and go home. Keep posting, GP!
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Of course they did. Only the war fanatics and politicians wanted things to continue.
Stay safe, Lavinia!!
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Businesses are starting to open up here, perhaps too soon. Time will tell. No vaccine yet.
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We are starting to open up too, but I’m in no rush. I think we’re in such a rush to get the economy back on track that we just may start another phase of the virus and we’ll end up in an even longer quarantine.
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The virus gives no free rides. One pays one way or the other. I think another quarantine is coming.
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I agree.
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The Japanese built an extraordinary maze of tunnels to house tons of ammunition and other supplies, not just in Japan but in the Philippines, too. Not only inside the mountains but underneath buildings. In my mother’s hometown, there was a tunnel under the church going to the sea where they transported cotton for shipment to Japan near the end of the war. Glad the war ended when it did. Can you imagine the casualties if the war continued?
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Yes, they had years to complete their tunnels in the Philippines. I covered some of that when I was covering my father’s movements during the war. They had incredible complexes.
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Fascinating
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I’m glad you found it interesting, Jim!
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🙂
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So interesting and like those comics (as usual )
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I appreciate it. I try to have something for everyone.
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😊✌️
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A little piece of history they do not teach in school
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There is far too much they don’t teach in school. Thanks for recognizing that fact.
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Thank you, Rick.
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Oooo… very intriguing, GP. This might also give me some ideas for a backstory for my Hiroto Minamoto character. (Yes, Hiroto is the name you suggested. 😀 ) Still working on that November novel. Hugs on the wing!
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I’m always happy to hear I sparked something of interest for you, Teagan!!
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Isn’t it interesting that the Japanese men guarding the sub had the same feeling of the fellow whose letter you recently shared: they just wanted it to be over, and to go home. Coincidentally, look at this historic photo of a small Japanese sub I came across on the web today. (If the link doesn’t work, I’ll copy the photo and add it.)
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The link worked just fine and thank you for adding it to the post, Linda. The Japanese soldiers didn’t surprise me – we always knew that war is carried out by them, but started by the politicians. (no matter which side you’re talking about).
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Amazing! Just amazing the steps taken to carry on the war if necessary. And then to think they just laid down their arms. Without the two bombs the war would have lasted for …
Again, great post, GP
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There are all sorts of thought on that too, but I’m just glad the invasion never happened.
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Yet more evidence that the decision to use the bombs was valid. It seems to have taken a long time for this information to surface. I must have been looking in the wrong places. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Saving lives was good reason, but Truman had to justify why FDR spent so much on secret cities that Congress never knew about too.
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A very informative article but a very scary one too! How many casualties would have occurred if 7,000,000 armed fanatics had decided to disobey orders and to defend their homeland? It doesn’t bear thinking about and thank goodness that my Dad wasn’t sent there and the war in the East finished with no more deaths.
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I am very lucky that they surrendered. I know exactly where my father would have gone into Japan to invade – and the odds of him surviving sure would not have been good!!
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The Japanese certainly had their underground areas well-stocked. Are the underground areas in the United States today anything similar? It was amazing that the weapons surrender took place without any shots being fired. Hard to believe!
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In the US most of our underground areas are better designed, sometimes hard to believe you are underground, like the one under the White House.
Once the Emperor gave his speech, the majority of Japan followed his orders.
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A great post as always- what a relief it must have been to be done with it all! And cartoons are spot on as always, too 😂.
(I made it over to check out your rationing article, too, finally. Seriously considering trying a wwii recipe per week this summer- you shared so many good ones!)
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So happy you liked the post from article to cartoons, Anne. Thank you.
Hope the recipes work out for you.
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Thanks for sharing this remarkable story! It underscores the calculations that the Allies were making about likely losses during Operation Coronet and its successors – and why, in the end, the atomic bomb seemed the better way. I’ve seen figures estimated at a million casualties from a direct invasion and subsequent fighting. Either choice, of course, was going to cost lives and carry a high moral burden for those making the decision.
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True all the way around, Matthew. But the bomb would have been dropped no matter what the situation. FDR had created secret cities to develop the bomb, and spent millions (in today would have been billions) that Congress knew nothing about. Sooner or later it would have to be revealed, and the cost and secrecy had to be accounted for.
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Very interesting post, as well as the comments from readers.
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I love that readers feel free to include their own stories and research here – I feel it really enhances the posts.
Thank you for reading them!
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You’re welcome!
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Most interesting. I have learned something.
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Whoa, that doesn’t happen very often, Pierre. Thank you!
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Great job, GP. I really loved the photos.
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Thank you, Cindy. I wanted to include a video of a short documentary I saw years ago, but I couldn’t find it. It was in Tokyo and had a female guide who had been a teenager in the bunker (working for the government) when the bomb went off.
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That would have been interesting.
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Great research and story, GP. Thank you.
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I always appreciate your visits, John, thank you!
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You always have good coffee, GP, so it’s my pleasure. 😁
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ah-ha, my coffee! I knew there was another reason! 🙄
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Hahaha.
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Thank you for the very interesting post, GP! So true, they were in need of storage space. Now, it seems every country had used forced labourers building shelters and caves. So much manpower at least for nothing. Be well and stay save.
Here we are in fantastic shape – as we believe the official airings. But the first phase isnt over yet. The Spain Flu consisted of three waves/ phases. Are we prepared better, these days?
By the way: The last days i remembering more and more ….. from the movie “Con Air”. Lol
With Jim Malcovich as Cyrus “The Virus”, and the fabulous Steve Buscemi singing “”He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”. Lol
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Thank you, Michael.
I doubt we are much more prepared or organized as with the Spanish flu – human nature doesn’t change very much. There are still those thinking, “It could never happen to me.” There are always those that feel they are above it all – and the virus starts all over again.
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So true, GP! But are they “obove over all” willing to spend the money for all the others too? 😉 Lets hope so.
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Oh, heck NO!!
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😉 Dont forget “He’s got the whole world in HIS hand!
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🙂
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🙂
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Never happen.
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Think so too, but in the past we got Napoleon. 😉
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You’d think Congress would have herd immunity to the stupidity virus by now. I guess it keeps mutating.
I had to laugh at, “food storage with ample stock of sake.” The military understands priorities.
I guess it’s a good thing we didn’t have to invade the mainland.
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I agree! That stupidity virus seems to be affecting some of the people in quarantine yelling ‘give me my freedom back!’ Only idiots would complain about the government trying to keep them alive!
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This has brought out the best in most people but also the worst and dumbest in others.
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As any crisis does, I’m not surprised just disappointed.
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Disposing of that stuff was my brother’s job in Iraq. It is a task that requires that you know what you are doing and is very intolerant of error.
One of the most beautiful and tragic films of the aftermath of WWII is Land of Mine. I highly recommend it.
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It does sound very interesting. I never heard about that.
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I can’t imagine having your brother’s job! Please shake his hand for me next time you see him!!
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Had that film on my wish list for a long time. But it is still very expensive in the UK.
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We saw this when I went to Japan with my military kids. It’s as amazing as it looks.
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And just think, how much was taken as souvenirs by the Allied soldiers, sailors and Marines!
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Extraordinary story GP. It should be read by anyone with any doubt about using the bomb to save American lives. It certainly would make one think really hard. Stay well and best regards.
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Thank you, Toritto. I appreciate you taking the time to read this.
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Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
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Thank you, Dave!
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Great post. The Japanese military was “dug in” for the long term. The surrender by the Japanese saved countless lives on both sides. I also believe that the Japanese people were ready for the war to end. Many just wanted to get on with their lives.
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They had basically been fighting since 1931, definitely since 1937 – yes, I totally agree with you, DC!!
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Interesting article.
Also, it would do no good to quarantine Congress . . . they are but a reflection of the people who voted them into office.
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We try to vote on the better of two evils, sometimes we chose wrong.
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The problem — a HUGE problem — is that we’ve been conditioned into thinking there are only two choices. Most people don’t even realize the constitution makes no provisions for political parties. None. Zero. Zilch. We are supposed to be represented by individuals who look after our interests, not those of the party.
The peripheral problem is that after we make our “lesser-than-two-evil” choice, we don’t hold anyone to a higher standard. Once we choose crap, no one tries to turn it into healthy compost (if you want a metaphor).
Plus, it’s convenient for corporations and the ultra-rich to have two entities that squabble over superficial issues while acting in unison on matters they really care about (power and money).
But, hey, whatever keeps the masses happy.
Sorry . . . not the place to discuss this. I guess it’s time for one of my rants on my blog.
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I understand what you’re saying. The thing is, there are always independents on the ballot, but you know they won’t win and it feels like you’re throwing your vote away.
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Pretty impressive underground. I think congress should be quarantined, maybe forever.
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Agreed – all the way around!!
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Very interesting article, GP. The Japanese are thorough and methodical as demonstrated by their underground facilities. • The best part of this post, however, was the “Quarantine Congress” cartoon. 👍👍👍👍
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Yes, I’ve got to admit, that cartoon had me laughing!
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I have to agree!
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That italicised footnote is scarcely credible
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What should be corrected, Derrick?
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Nothing at all – you have reported the facts – it’s just that I couldn’t have imagined there would be no bloodshed.
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It shows how highly they respected their Emperor.
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Yes – I thought that must me it.
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Japan with its mountainous terrain, with the massive amount of war materiel and a will to fight to the death, would have been able to fight the American invasion for at least another year. Fortunately, after the atomic attack, the Japanese surrendered and thus avoided the total destruction of their country.
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So true – and the million or so loss of life on our side!
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The tunnels are fascinating, so many all over the world due to wars.
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The orientals have dug many a tunnel. My Dad expressed that from fighting in the Philippines and any Vietnam vet can attest to it from that war.
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you, John!
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You are welcome.
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Your research is amazing. I’ve never heard of Japan’s underground stashes. Thanks for sharing so diligently. As a blogger, I know it is a commitment. Take care,
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Thank you, you are very kind to say so. A few readers expressed interest in this subject, so…. but I know there was much more than I recorded here.
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This is an amazing story. Did the Japanese people surrender so peacefully because their emperor told them to? Once again we were lucky to have MacArthur in charge during this period. Wish we were as lucky today…. Love the cartoons and memes.
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Yes, they did. As far as they knew, Japan was winning the war, the military would not admit defeat publicly.
Thank you for your interest, Pat!
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I’m a big WWII fan and.of your blog.
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☺☺ Blushing
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Extraordinary story.
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Thank you, Ann. This post was my partial answer to inquiries made by a couple of readers.
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Well worth reading….thank you.
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Thank you, Michael.
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The cleanup of armaments is a pointed validation of the number of lives that would have been lost in an invasion.
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Actually, I think the estimation made when Operation Downfall was discussed was an understatement. We are all very lucky that Japan surrendered.
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Thank you!
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Thank you, Tony.
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Thank you.
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