Even before the massive US conventional, and ultimately nuclear, bombing campaign of 1945, which incinerated many Japanese cities, including Tokyo, and killed hundreds of thousands of people, the Japanese people suffered greatly in WWII. Thet had to work very hard and to survive with a minimum of food and clothing, as the nation's resources were mobilized for military use. Privations were greatly increased, especially in 1944, by the US submarine campaign. The loss of hundreds of Japanese merchant ships (marus) severely limited the flow of imported food,oil etc. Many people were nearly starving since the military had priority for what little food there was. Civilians also had a lower priority for available fuel. Loss of tankers and oil imports severely affected transportation. Without oil to spare for cars or buses, many people had to get around on bicycles.
