An invasion of Japan is expected here to cause catastrophic civilian casualties as well as heavy military losses. Difficult terrain would favour ambushes and make the campaign costly, while the scale of destruction could transform the country. The actual ending of the war is consequently judged the least damaging of those options, assuming Japan's government did not change course. Britain's prewar approach is described as a blockade intended to force surrender through deprivation. Cutting off supplies and fishing would therefore carry its own prospect of mass civilian deaths.
Notable Point · 4:24:01-4:25:58
The civilian costs feared from invading or blockading Japan
The assessment of a prolonged war includes catastrophic invasion casualties and the mass starvation expected from a sustained blockade.