What was the first stage of Operation Downfall, aimed at southern Kyushu, called?

Operation Olympic was the first stage of Operation Downfall, aimed at southern Kyushu.

Olympic was the planned Allied invasion of the southernmost Japanese home island, Kyushu. It was scheduled to begin in November 1945, using Okinawa as a major staging and support area. Capturing southern Kyushu would have provided airfields and bases for the later invasion of the Kanto Plain.

The second stage was Operation Coronet, planned for spring 1946 against Honshu near Tokyo. Together, Olympic and Coronet formed Operation Downfall, the overall invasion plan for Japan’s home islands.

Olympic was never launched because Japan surrendered in August 1945. Japanese planners anticipated an invasion and prepared Operation Ketsugo, a defense strategy focused on inflicting heavy losses on the invading forces. The planned battle therefore became unnecessary after the atomic bombings, the Soviet declaration of war, and Japan’s decision to accept the Allied terms.