I’ve seen this claim made a few times and was wondering how valid it is. Basically, it’s arguing that the Japanese were going to surrender in 1945 but the US would only accept an unconditional one which the Japanese didn’t want to accept because they feared for the safety of the Emperor under it and wanted to keep the Emperor (who they thought may have been deposed or arrested if they unconditionally surrendered).
Hi there -- while there's always more to be said on this, you may be interested in this section of our FAQ.