Hirohito's surrender broadcast announced Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration on 15 August 1945.
The recorded speech was broadcast by Japan's national broadcaster, NHK, at noon Japan Standard Time. It marked the first time most Japanese civilians had heard the emperor's voice. Hirohito used formal classical language, so many listeners found the message difficult to understand immediately.
The broadcast came after Japan's leadership had decided to accept the Allied terms. The announcement followed the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Soviet declaration of war, and intense debate within the Japanese government. The emperor's intervention helped break a deadlock among senior officials.
This date is often called V-J Day, or Victory over Japan Day, particularly in the United States. However, the formal surrender ceremony occurred later, on 2 September 1945, aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The distinction explains why some countries commemorate Japan's defeat on 15 August while others emphasize 2 September.