Following the detonation of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese military and the government clash over the demand from the Allies for unconditional surrender. Minister of the Army Anami leads the military officers who propose to fight on, even to the death of every Japanese citizen. Emperor Hirohito, however, joins with his ministers in asking the unthinkable, the peaceful surrender of Japan. When the military plots a coup to overthrow the Emperor's civilian government, Anami must face the choice between his desires and loyalty to his Emperor.

Shortly after midnight on 14 August 1945 the government meets with Emperor Hirohito to discuss the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration, which demands unconditional Japanese surrender. On 10 August it had been decided to accept the Declaration on the condition the Emperor remain on his throne. Upon receipt of the Allied reply on 12 August, however, General Anami, the War Minister, and other high-ranking officers decided to reject the Declaration with the intention of resisting the Allies to the very end. Also, a group of younger officers submitted to the War Ministry a plan to isolate the "pacifists" from the Emperor and to declare martial law in Tokyo. In the Imperial meeting of the 14th the Emperor, declaring he can no longer bear to see the Japanese people suffer, insists the Declaration be accepted and that he transmit the decision in a radio broadcast to the nation the next day. The forces opposing surrender immediately go into action: the commander of the Imperial Guards is murdered, and the rebels occupy the palace and confine the Information Chief and his broadcasting crew to prevent the broadcast of the Emperor's speech. However, units of General Tanaka's East Army swiftly suppress the coup, and Anami commits suicide. The Emperor's speech is transmitted, and the war officially ends for Japan.