On what date did Emperor Hirohito announce Japan's surrender in 1945?

Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender on 15 August 1945.

The announcement came in a recorded radio address known as the Gyokuon-hōsō, or “Broadcast in the Emperor’s Voice.” It stated that Japan had accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and would end the war. The broadcast was made at noon Japan Standard Time, although many listeners found the formal language difficult to understand.

This date is often called V-J Day, but regional observances differ. In the United States, news of the surrender was received on 14 August because of the time difference, while Japan and many British Commonwealth countries mark 15 August. The formal legal surrender came later, on 2 September 1945, when Japanese representatives signed the surrender document in Tokyo Bay.

Hirohito’s broadcast was historically important because it was the first time most Japanese civilians had heard the emperor’s voice. It helped communicate the government’s decision after intense debate among Japanese military and political leaders.