Japan had unsuccessfully battled the Allied forces for six years, starting with complete victories to utter defeat. They had fought gallantly, however, now they had been driven all the way back to their homeland. But they were ready to fight to the last man to drive the enemy out of their country. In his pre-invasion speech, the Emperor vowed; "The Americans think that they can beat us and drive us from our own homeland, but they are wrong. I vow to you, my people, that we will fight to the last imperial, we will crush the armies of our enemies and Japan will rise again!"