On what date did Emperor Hirohito’s radio announcement of Japan’s surrender air in Japan?

Emperor Hirohito’s radio announcement of Japan’s surrender aired in Japan on August 15, 1945.

The broadcast was known as the Gyokuon-hōsō, or “Jewel Voice Broadcast.” Hirohito recorded it the previous day, and the recording was transmitted shortly after noon on August 15. It announced Japan’s acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration, although it used formal language rather than plainly saying, “Japan surrenders.”

For many Japanese listeners, the broadcast was historically remarkable because it was probably the first time the emperor’s voice had been heard publicly by ordinary people. The audio was difficult for many listeners to understand because it used classical court language and was transmitted through the technology of the period.

The date is sometimes confused with August 14, the date the announcement was received and celebrated in the United States because of time-zone differences. It is also distinct from September 2, when Japanese representatives signed the formal surrender document aboard the USS Missouri.