Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s acceptance of the surrender terms to the Japanese public on August 15, 1945.
The announcement was a recorded radio address known as the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War. It aired at noon Japan Standard Time, and it was the first time most Japanese civilians had heard the emperor’s voice. Hirohito did not use the simple word “surrender” in the speech; instead, he said Japan had accepted the terms of the Allied declaration.
August 15 is commonly observed as V-J Day in Japan and several other countries, although the United States commonly marked August 14 because of the time difference. The formal surrender ceremony came later, on September 2, 1945, when Japanese representatives signed the surrender instrument aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.