Of course Japan did capitulate, prima facie evidence that all the predictions about her refusal to do so was so much talk. On the other hand, how it was achieved strongly suggests that only the atomic bombs could have done it without the years of "decisive battle" or mass starvation. For surrender was (barely) accepted only when the Emperor spoke up, and that moment came only five days after Nagasaki. It was the terrifying atomic devastation that prompted his startling intervention, then tipped the balance among military commanders in favor of obeying him.
