WW2: Why were Nagasaki and Hiroshima chosen as targets for the nuclear bombs instead of less inhabited islands just off the coast of Japan?

by geargirl

Japan was pretty much defeated by the time we dropped the bombs anyway. We had been successfully bombing Japan's industrial cities/factories on the mainland as well. Wouldn't showing Japan we could obliterate an island have the same effect in delivering their surrender?

Searocksandtrees

hi! check out this recent post for a quick summary & links to more posts. if you have follow-up questions, /u/restricteddata is your man

restricteddata

On the question of whether demonstration was a feasible, discussed possibility, I have written up a post on this question.