On what date did Japan publicly announce its World War II surrender in Japan?

Japan publicly announced its World War II surrender in Japan on 15 August 1945.

Emperor Hirohito’s recorded radio address was broadcast at noon Japan Standard Time. It announced that Japan had accepted the terms set out in the Potsdam Declaration, although the broadcast used formal imperial language that many listeners found difficult to understand.

The announcement followed several decisive events. The United States used atomic bombs against Hiroshima on 6 August and Nagasaki on 9 August, while the Soviet Union declared war on Japan on 8 August and invaded Japanese-held Manchuria. Japan’s leaders then agreed to accept the Allied terms.

The date is sometimes listed as 14 August in the United States and other places because the news arrived there during the previous calendar day. It is also distinct from 2 September, when Japanese representatives signed the formal Instrument of Surrender.