Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you will, but they do not end when you please.

Niccolo Machiavelli, the prince.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

Music century. Episode 424, from Z to A.

As the new year of 1944, from Z to A. As the new year of 1944 dawned over the land of the rising sun, Japan's military situation was grim.

The Allies were overpowering Japan both on the southwest Pacific front and now in the Central Pacific after the American

capture of Tarawa. This caused the Army and the Navy once again to clash over allocation of

resources between the two services. The admirals and the generals disagreed over many things,

but there was one place where they were in complete agreement.

Experience had shown how vital was the role air power played in the Pacific War, so both services clamored for more warplanes.

In December 1943, the government estimated Japan could produce 45,000 aircraft in 1944,

and proposed to divide aircraft production equally between the Army and the Navy.

The leaders of both services agreed to this allocation, but barely a month later, in January 1944, the Navy persuaded

Prime Minister Tojo Hideki to increase their share to 26,000. One of Tojo's old army colleagues,

Sato Kenyo, was now an official in the war ministry. He objected.

He pointed out to the Prime Minister that the Navy's strategy of luring the Americans

into a decisive battle comparable to the Battle of the Tsushima Strait

had clearly failed.

With the Navy short on carriers,

the islands between the Americans and Japan

would have to replace them as unsinkable carriers

guarding the home islands. This would be the army's job, therefore the army should get most of the

...