Rhiannon Hendricks
The idea that Henry Stimson, the US Secretary of War, spared Kyoto from being a target of the atomic bomb during World War II because he had honeymooned there is a popular one. It has been depicted in Christopher Nolan's 2023 film Oppenheimer and explored in a blog post by historian Alex Wellerstein. However, there is no evidence to support this claim. Stimson did visit Kyoto at least twice in the 1920s, but these trips cannot be reasonably characterised as a honeymoon. Stimson himself never cited a honeymoon as the reason for sparing Kyoto, and it is not mentioned in any reliable accounts or his own writings. The decision to remove Kyoto from the target list was likely influenced by a combination of strategic considerations and personal morality, including Stimson's appreciation for Japanese art and culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did Henry Stimson honeymoon in Kyoto? | There is no evidence to support this claim. |
| Reason for Kyoto not being bombed | Henry Stimson persuaded President Truman to remove it from the list of targets for the atomic bomb because of its cultural importance. |
| Other reasons for Kyoto not being bombed | Some sources suggest that Stimson's personal connection to Kyoto and his appreciation for its cultural significance influenced his decision. However, historian Jason M. Kelly and Professor Leslie C. Griffin argue that strategic considerations, such as avoiding bolstering the Communist cause in Asia, were more likely the primary factors. |
| Cultural significance of Kyoto | Kyoto is known for its cultural richness, with more than 2000 Buddhist temples and 17 world heritage sites. It was the ancient traditional capital of Japan and is now one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. |
| Portrayal in media | The idea that Stimson's honeymoon in Kyoto influenced his decision not to bomb the city is portrayed in the 2023 film "Oppenheimer" by Christopher Nolan. This portrayal has been criticised by some historians as misleading and trivializing. |
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What You'll Learn
Henry Stimson's role in saving Kyoto from the atomic bomb
The idea that Henry Stimson saved Kyoto from the atomic bomb because he honeymooned there is likely a myth. While Stimson did visit Kyoto at least twice in the 1920s, neither trip could reasonably be called a honeymoon. Stimson himself never cited a honeymoon as the reason for sparing Kyoto, and no serious, scholarly accounts of the incident mention it either.
Stimson, the US Secretary of War, did, however, play a significant role in saving Kyoto from the atomic bomb. In early June 1945, he ordered Kyoto to be removed from the target list, citing its cultural importance and arguing that it was not a military target. The military kept putting Kyoto back on the list, but Stimson persuaded President Truman to remove it. In his diary, Stimson wrote that he suggested to Truman that eliminating Kyoto would cause bitterness that would make it impossible to reconcile the Japanese to the US in the postwar period, especially with tensions that led to the Cold War already brewing.
Kyoto, the intellectual center and historical capital of Japan, was initially selected as the best target by the Target Committee because its inhabitants were "more highly intelligent and hence better able to appreciate the significance of the weapon." The goal was to obtain "the greatest psychological effect against Japan" and to make the initial use of the atomic bomb "sufficiently spectacular for the importance of the weapon to be internationally recognized."
Stimson's thinking about the bomb went beyond technical efficiency. He believed that deliberately targeting civilians for mass killing was not only immoral but also harmful to the international reputation of the United States. He also understood that the use of the bomb could serve as a shock factor to produce "the kind of shock on the Japanese ruling oligarchy which we desired."
Stimson's efforts to protect Kyoto were unprecedented and extraordinary, and the city was the only great city in Japan to be spared serious bombing during World War II, despite being among the top targets preferred for the atomic bomb.
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Stimson's visits to Kyoto in the 1920s
Henry L. Stimson, the former Secretary of War and State, visited Kyoto at least twice in the 1920s, in 1926 and 1929. These visits are well-documented, with Stimson's 1926 diary providing a detailed account of his and his wife's sightseeing tour of the city. The couple visited several temples, a Shinto shrine, a private garden, and the Silver Pavilion (Ginkakuji). They travelled by rickshaw, train, and ship during their stay.
Stimson's trips to Kyoto in the 1920s have been characterised as "fact-finding" missions, during which he gathered information and had conversations with people in the Philippines, including the Governor General, General Leonard Wood, a friend of Stimson's. This trip positioned Stimson as an "expert" on Asian nations and their diplomatic relations with the United States, later granting him audiences with the President and leading to his appointment as Governor-General of the Philippines and Secretary of State.
While some historians and popular culture sources have asserted that one of these trips to Kyoto was Stimson's honeymoon, this claim is widely regarded as a myth by scholars. Stimson himself never cited a honeymoon as a reason for sparing Kyoto from the atomic bomb during World War II, and no mention of a honeymoon in Kyoto appears in his published writings or biographies. The origin of this assertion is unclear, but it may be due to a combination of Stimson's admiration of Japanese culture and the perceived incongruity between the seriousness of the atomic bomb and the triviality of the fact of Stimson's having been there on honeymoon.
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Stimson's admiration for Japanese culture
While it is speculated that Henry Stimson's admiration for Japanese culture influenced his decision to remove Kyoto from the list of targets for the atomic bomb, there is little evidence to support the claim that he honeymooned in Kyoto. Stimson himself never mentioned a honeymoon in Kyoto in any of his published writings, including his autobiography and diaries.
Stimson did visit Kyoto at least twice in the 1920s, but these trips were unrelated to any honeymoon. During this time, he served as the governor of the Philippines and later as Secretary of State under President Hoover. Stimson's decision to spare Kyoto from bombing during World War II has been attributed to his recognition of the city's cultural and historical significance. In his diary, Stimson expressed concern that destroying such an important cultural site could create long-lasting hostility among the Japanese people, pushing them towards the Soviets in the emerging Cold War tensions.
While the idea of Stimson's honeymoon in Kyoto may be a myth, his appreciation for Japanese culture, particularly art and history, likely influenced his decision to protect Kyoto from destruction. This appreciation, combined with strategic political considerations, led to the preservation of the ancient city and its cultural assets.
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The influence of personal connections on historical outcomes
Henry Stimson, the Secretary of War, is known to have visited Kyoto at least twice in the 1920s when he was the governor of the Philippines. Some historians and popular culture sources have speculated that one of these trips was his honeymoon, and this personal connection influenced his decision to remove Kyoto from the list of targets for the atomic bomb. Stimson himself never claimed this in any of his published writings, and there is no positive evidence to support this assertion. However, it is well-documented that Stimson admired Japanese culture and had a personal stake in preserving Kyoto's cultural heritage.
Stimson's decision to spare Kyoto was likely influenced by a combination of strategic considerations and personal morality. As a veteran public servant and international statesman, he understood the potential backlash from destroying a city of such cultural importance. Additionally, with the tensions that led to the Cold War already brewing, Stimson and other American officials did not want to bolster the Communist cause in Asia by alienating the Japanese people. This strategic calculation took into account the potential for future reconciliation and alliance with Japan.
In conclusion, the story of Henry Stimson and the alleged honeymoon in Kyoto highlights the intricate interplay between personal experiences, morality, and strategic considerations in shaping historical outcomes. While the honeymoon story may be a myth, Stimson's personal connection to Kyoto and his understanding of its cultural significance influenced his decision-making as the Secretary of War. This, in turn, had a profound impact on the course of history, sparing Kyoto from destruction and potentially affecting post-war alliances. The influence of personal connections on historical outcomes is a powerful reminder of the complex and multifaceted nature of decision-making in times of war and beyond.
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The accuracy of the portrayal of Stimson's honeymoon in Kyoto in the media
The media portrayal of Henry Stimson's honeymoon in Kyoto has been a topic of discussion and debate, especially following its inclusion in Christopher Nolan's 2023 film "Oppenheimer". In the film, Stimson's decision to remove Kyoto from the list of potential targets for the atomic bomb is portrayed as a lighthearted moment, with the character citing his honeymoon as the reason for his attachment to the city. This portrayal has been criticised by some as inaccurate and misleading.
While it is true that Stimson visited Kyoto at least twice in the 1920s, including in 1926, there is little evidence to support the claim that he honeymooned there with his wife in 1893. This idea has been described as a myth by some commentators, who argue that it trivialises Stimson's more complex motivations for sparing Kyoto during World War II. Stimson himself never cited a honeymoon as the reason for his attachment to the city, and it is not mentioned in any reliable accounts of his life, including his own writings and several biographies.
Some historians and commentators have speculated that Stimson's decision to spare Kyoto was influenced by his admiration for Japanese culture and art, as well as the influence of individuals close to him, such as Henry Loomis, who shared an enthusiasm for Japanese culture. Loomis, the son of a close family friend, had been stationed in the Pacific and may have sparked Stimson's interest in Japanese culture during a dinner conversation in early 1945. This is supported by the fact that Stimson pushed to protect other cities with cultural significance, such as Kamakura.
The portrayal of Stimson's honeymoon in Kyoto as the primary reason for sparing the city from bombing has been criticised as simplistic and inaccurate. It is important to recognise that Stimson's decision was likely influenced by a range of factors, including strategic considerations and the potential impact on post-war relations with Japan. Additionally, it is worth noting that Stimson was also responsible for the internment of over 100,000 Japanese Americans, demonstrating a complex and controversial legacy in his approach to Japan during World War II.
In conclusion, while the media portrayal of Stimson's honeymoon in Kyoto may serve a narrative purpose in the film "Oppenheimer", it does not accurately reflect the historical record. The decision to spare Kyoto from bombing was likely influenced by a variety of factors, and the idea that Stimson's honeymoon was the primary or sole reason for this decision is not supported by reliable evidence.
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Frequently asked questions
It is speculated that Stimson and his wife honeymooned in Kyoto, Japan, but there is no evidence to support this claim.
It is speculated that Stimson's personal connection to Kyoto influenced his decision to remove it from the list of targets during World War II.
Yes, Stimson persuaded President Truman to remove Kyoto from the list of targets for the atomic bomb due to its cultural importance.
Stimson wanted to protect Kyoto because of its cultural and historical significance as the ancient capital of Japan, home to thousands of Buddhist temples and heritage sites.
No, there is no reliable evidence or scholarly account that mentions Stimson's honeymoon in Kyoto. Stimson himself never cited a honeymoon in any of his published writings.
