How long did Hirohito’s recorded surrender broadcast last on Japanese radio in 1945?

Hirohito’s recorded surrender broadcast lasted 4 minutes and 36 seconds on Japanese radio in 1945.

The program began at noon Japan Standard Time on August 15 and ended shortly after 12:04 p.m. It was not a live speech: the Emperor had recorded the address at the Imperial Palace the previous night, and NHK broadcast the recording to the public.

The short broadcast was historically significant because it was the first known instance of a Japanese emperor speaking directly to ordinary people through radio. Hirohito used highly formal classical Japanese, and many listeners were unfamiliar with both his voice and the language style. The recording’s sound quality also made the message harder to understand.

Although the speech is widely described as announcing Japan’s surrender, Hirohito framed it as acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. The legal surrender came later, when Japanese and Allied representatives signed the written instrument aboard USS Missouri on September 2.