Emperor Hirohito’s surrender broadcast was transmitted to the Japanese public at noon on August 15, 1945.
The announcement was carried by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, known as NHK. It used a recording made at the Imperial Palace rather than a live speech. Hirohito had recorded the rescript the previous night, and the recording was then transported safely to the broadcasting station.
The timing was publicly announced in advance, allowing people throughout Japan to gather around radios. Many listeners wore formal clothing because the emperor’s direct address was an unprecedented national event. After the rescript, an announcer clarified that the message meant Japan was accepting the Allied terms and ending the war.
The broadcast’s formal language and imperfect audio meant that many people did not immediately understand every word. The date and time also create a common confusion: August 15 marked the public announcement in Japan, while the formal surrender document was signed on September 2 aboard USS Missouri.