On what date did Emperor Hirohito’s recorded surrender address reach the Japanese public?

Emperor Hirohito’s recorded surrender address reached the Japanese public on August 15, 1945.

The broadcast was the first time many Japanese civilians heard the emperor’s voice. In the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War, Hirohito announced that Japan had accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and instructed the nation to endure the consequences of ending the conflict.

The speech was recorded the previous day at the Imperial Palace and transmitted at noon Japan Standard Time. Its formal, classical language and poor sound quality made it difficult for many listeners to understand, so government officials later explained its meaning more directly.

August 15 is often called V-J Day in Japan and is sometimes treated as the war’s end. In a strict legal and ceremonial sense, however, the surrender was formally signed aboard USS Missouri on September 2. The distinction between the public announcement and the later signing explains why both dates appear in histories of Japan’s surrender.