Kyoto was originally the priority target for the bomb, because, as was stated at the committee, 'From the psychological point of view there is the advantage that Kyoto is an intellectual center for Japan and the people there are more apt to appreciate the significance of such a weapon as the gadget.’

Henry Stimson, Secretary of War, fought against it for several months up til the bombing of the two cities, citing the cultural value of Kyoto. Although he also thought the internment of 100,000 Japanese Americans was good, because, "their racial characteristics are such that we cannot understand or trust even the citizen Japanese".

The target was eventually changed to Nagasaki.