I read that there were only two potential landing sites for an invasion of Japan (main island) and these were well defended. The Japanese also believed the Divine Wind (typhoon) would also protect them from invasion, as it did against the Mongols.
http://danielroy.tripod.com/cgi-bin/...olia/opi2.html
The bombs demonstrated that landing defenses could easily be shattered. The bombs could not be stopped by typhoon.
I am sure that some military men lost the desire to see it through to the bloody end because of the bomb. It is one thing to sacrifice yourself, another thing to sacrifice yourself in vain, and worse to sacrifice yourself and everything you are fighting for.
BTW:
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq102-6.htm
Okinowa was hit by a typhoon a month after the Japanese surrender. A lot of material was lost, a lot of ships were scrapped, and there was a loss of life.
But, it was nothing compared what could have happen if the island was full of troops, planes and ships preparing for an invasion. The survivors would have been defenseless.
[ December 11, 2003, 19:20: Message edited by: Wardad ]