In what language was Hirohito’s 1945 surrender speech delivered?

Hirohito’s 1945 surrender speech was delivered in Classical Japanese.

The emperor read the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War, which was broadcast to Japan on August 15, 1945. The rescript used formal court language rather than the everyday Japanese spoken by most listeners. This choice reflected the traditional style of imperial proclamations but made the announcement difficult for many people to understand immediately.

The recording also had poor audio quality, and Hirohito’s voice was unfamiliar to the public. Although listeners understood that the emperor had made an important announcement, many needed radio announcers, newspapers, or official explanations to clarify that Japan had accepted the Allied surrender terms.

The speech did not directly use a simple phrase equivalent to “Japan surrenders.” Instead, it announced acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration and referred to the war’s circumstances. This indirect wording is one reason the broadcast is remembered as both a technological and political turning point. The formal surrender followed on September 2, when Japan’s representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender in Tokyo Bay.