At what time did Emperor Hirohito announce Japan’s acceptance of the Allied surrender terms on August 15, 1945?

Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s acceptance of the Allied surrender terms at noon Japan Standard Time on August 15, 1945.

The broadcast was carried by radio across the Japanese Empire. It was the first time many Japanese subjects had heard the emperor’s voice, although the formal language and recording quality made the message difficult for some listeners to understand.

Hirohito’s announcement followed a series of crises, including the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the Soviet declaration of war, the bombing of Nagasaki, and intense debate within Japan’s leadership. A failed coup attempt by military officers also occurred as hardliners tried to prevent the recording from being broadcast.

The announcement did not itself constitute the formal signing of surrender. That legal and diplomatic act occurred on September 2, 1945, aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The August 15 broadcast is therefore associated with the public announcement, while September 2 marks the formal ceremony.