The japs offered peace terms a few hours before the attack on Pearl, too. A cute little trick, the people that were living then, had not forgotten.
Even after the two A-bombs they would have fought to the death if the Emperor hadn't finally over ruled the military that were running the show. Don't forget the soldiers that were left on remote islands and still fighting the war 20, 30, 40 years later.
Unconditional surrender was the only way.
