Mokusatsu

Mokusatsu (黙殺) is a Japanese word formed from two Chinese characters: "silence" (moku, 黙) and "kill" (satsu, 殺) and means the act of keeping a contemptuous silence. The word was possibly misinterpreted by the United States when the government of Japan used it ambiguously as a response to American demands for unconditional surrender in World War II. This misinterpretation is argued by some to have been a factor in President Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb against Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The term is not always "contemptuous" however -- and it is a rare word, even in Japanese (older Japanese people know that 'mokusatsu' is a rare way way to let somebody down easily and still let them let them keep their pride).

Mokusatsu literally means "kill by silence" -- and can be used to just let a topic or subject die by refusing to follow up on it. The reasons for the "mokusatsu" response could as easily be contempt as embarrassment, discomfort, or even simply not knowing what else to do in response.

This inability to fully understand its implications was one of the troubles Truman and his advisors faced.

The recently (10/06) released index to the NSA Technical Journal (cf. http://www.thememoryhole.org/nsa/bibs.htm ) mentions an article on mokusatsu.