<Li> 1943: U.S. victory in Battle of Guadalcanal (February 9). Japan defeated at Battle of Tarawa (November 23). </Li> <Li> 1944: Tojo resigns and Kuniaki Koiso becomes prime minister (July 22). </Li> <Li> 1945: U.S. bombers begin firebombing of major Japanese cities . Japan defeated at Battle of Iwo Jima (March 26). Admiral Kantarō Suzuki becomes prime minister (April 7). Manila massacre . Japan defeated at Battle of Okinawa (June 21). U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima (August 6), and on Nagasaki in the same day that USSR entered in the War against Japan (August 9). Japan surrenders (September 2): Allied occupation begins . </Li>

When did military rulers take control of japan