How were the atomic bomb attacks on japan during world war ii an example of "total war"?

"Total war," by definition, pursues war in a way that encompasses everything.  Civilians are not ruled out as targets of military attacks.  In fact, civilians are not really seen as "civilians" because of their labors in supporting and supplying the war effort.  When atomic bombs were dropped on Japan in 1945, the aim of the Allies was to totally demoralize the Japanese people so that they would no longer support their government in the war effort.

the answer Apex is looking for is they were used to attack civilian centers rather than military targets

C.before he invaded rome