Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-32250026-20180109043630/@comment-2236231-20180110214436

I wasn't thinking Tokyo as the aim (to my understanding) was to get Japan to surrender rather then leave it disorganized as such would create a power vacum of which the Soviet Union may have filled.

This article has the full list of potential targets; http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33755182 The article also expresses the concern via a quote from Mr. Smitson on his discussion with Truman about Russian power in the area of Japan.

The list of targets are (in from Southern most point to northern most point order); Nagasaki, Kokura, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Yokohama, Tokyo, and Niigata.

Northern most targets such as Niigata where less favorable on the list due to how such would weaken the mainland of Japan leaving it open to Soviet invassion as the Empire and Soviet Union where in a state of War and the US allied with the USSR- and thus a bit hand tied.

I do however find your specuation regarding what would happen if Tokyo where bombed very plausable which is why I'd rather not explore such a situation as it's rather nightmarish to me. Though the last part about a southern Imperial nation seems the only unlikely aspect as I'm sure the US would attempt toget a foot hold in the region- perhaps leaving Korea to the Soviets and creating a kind of Northern and Southern Japan situation that becomes that timeline's North and South Korea sitaution; Communist North/Democratic South.

I also want to express that the point that had me precieving hostility came from the 'your joking' part as it implies that I"m either unintelligent or have said something rediculous. I don't have much of a sense of humor and due to my mental condition do not always understand social interaction or rather recieve it as intended. As stated, decerning tone via text is challenging.

Back on the subject of Alternate Bombing Sites, It seems likely to me based on what I have quickly looked up that we can exchange one of the two cities (Nagasaki or Hiroshima) with Kokura; and according to Ted Daley in "Apocalypse Never: Forging the Path to a Nuclear Weapon-Free World"  that would be Nagasaki; for it's stated in that source that the primary target of 'Fat Man' (the 2nd Bomb) was Kokura but on the morning of the bombing mission Kokura was obstructed by clouds- smoke from the fire bombing of Yahata, a neighboring city, the day before. With orders to drop the bomb visually rather then with radar the mission commander moved to Nagasaki which was the alternate target.

Thus a simple alternate history is one where Yahata was fire bombed two days before the mission thus making Kokura visible and thus as the primary target struck. In our timeline Kokura has become the city Kitakyushu where  the NIppon Steel Corporation, Toto Ltd, Yakasha Electric Company, and StarFlyer Airlines are based. Kokura had a great cultural significance but it's only military application was as a transport center having an effective railway system that would, in the case of a US land invassion of Japan, allow armies to quickly moves from the North to the South. It is the location of Kyushu Institute of Technology (KyuTech)

Notable people from our timeline living in Kokura at the time the bombing would take place are Ted Fujita (he was attending school at KyuTech). Ted in OTL is acredited with discovering Downbursts and Microbursts. Lejii Matsumoto, a Manga and Anime artist and writer was also living in Kokura at the time; he created Space Battleship Yamato.

Nagasaki at the time of the bombing was the center of the Akunoura Engine Works, Mitsubishi Arms Plant, Mitsubishi Electric Shipyards, Mitsubishi Steel & Arms Work, and Mitsumbshi-Orakami Ordencance Works as well as the Nagasaki Medical School and Hospital; one of the finest in the nation. Nagasaki had one of the highest Roman Catholic Populations in Japan with survivors turning largely Protestant after the bombing in OTL with many churches being constructed during the rebuilding.

I've yet to find sources regarding influential people residing in Nagasaki at the time, but I hope to find that list; if your up for working on this timeline :D