Chapter 12 investigates Yukikaze’s activities after the sinking of Yamato and during Japan’s surrender to the Allies. Yukikaze was transferred to the Republic of China in 1947, where she defended Taiwan during the crises in the Taiwan Strait. The chapter concludes with Yukikaze’s enduring legacy in Japanese culture.

This chapter examines the impact of the sudden end of the war, which caught the Chiang Kai-shek government off guard. The Allies had planned an amphibious landing on the coast of China, which would have given Chongqing time to regain control of the east coast and reduce inflation. After Japanese surrender, inflation briefly halted but then rather quickly resumed. Why was there no peace dividend?

Botched liberation: The retaking of occupied areas was done poorly, alienating many of the residents who had endured years under Japanese control. Topics covered include fleecing collaborators and undervaluing the currency of the Wang Jingwei government. There were problems maintaining the exchange rate of fabi with foreign currencies. Shipping and transportation problems were serious and inhibited economic recovery. UNRRA had problems getting aid to China.

How should the United States end the war with Japan? Secretary of War Stimson agonized over the use of the atomic bomb, knowing it would kill tens of thousands of innocent civilians. But he also recoiled at the thought of an invasion of Japan, which would likely cost many Allied soldiers’ lives. There had to be an alternative. He found a third option in conditional surrender: allowing the Japanese to retain their Emperor. If Japan’s leaders could be assured that the Emperor could remain on his throne safe from prosecution, then perhaps they might be induced to surrender. This chapter tracks the convoluted course by which high officials tried to maneuver President Truman toward conditional surrender and away from the other two costly options.