Emperor Hirohito’s recorded surrender broadcast was first transmitted to Japan’s public on August 15, 1945. The broadcast announced Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration and was heard at noon Japan Standard Time.
Hirohito recorded the speech late on August 14 at the Tokyo Imperial Palace. It was not a live address: radio technicians made recordings, and the official recording was played over Japan’s national broadcasting network the next day.
Many Japanese listeners had never heard the Emperor’s voice before. The formal classical language and poor audio quality made the message difficult for some people to understand, although its meaning was recognized as an announcement that the war was ending.
The date is commonly associated with V-J Day, especially in Japan and other countries that mark the public announcement. The formal surrender document was signed later, on September 2, aboard USS Missouri.