Emperor Hirohito's surrender announcement reached the Japanese public on 15 August 1945 during Victory over Japan Day.
The broadcast was recorded the previous day and transmitted shortly after noon Japan Standard Time. It announced that Japan had accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration, although the emperor used formal court language that many listeners found difficult to understand.
This broadcast is often called the Jewel Voice Broadcast, or Gyokuon-hōsō. It was historically significant because it was the first time most Japanese civilians had heard the emperor's voice. Japan's government had already informed the Allies of its intention to surrender, but the public announcement made the decision widely known.
The date can cause confusion because some countries marked V-J Day on 14 August because of the time difference. The formal surrender ceremony did not occur until 2 September 1945, when Japanese representatives signed the surrender instrument aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.