On what date did Japan’s government announce its surrender to the Japanese public in 1945?

Japan’s government announced its surrender to the Japanese public on August 15, 1945.

Emperor Hirohito’s radio broadcast was heard shortly after noon in Japan. It announced acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration, although the Emperor used formal language that many listeners found difficult to understand. This was the first time most Japanese people had heard his voice.

The broadcast announcement and the formal surrender were separate events. Japan notified the Allies of its decision before August 15, but the surrender document was not signed until September 2 aboard USS Missouri.

Time zones created another date associated with the announcement. President Harry Truman’s American broadcast occurred on August 14 in Washington, so many people in the United States learned of Japan’s surrender on that date. The different dates explain why V-J Day commemorations vary by country.