On what date was Hirohito’s recorded surrender address broadcast to the Japanese public?

Hirohito’s recorded surrender address was broadcast to the Japanese public on August 15, 1945.

The address was the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War, delivered through Japan’s national broadcaster, NHK. It announced acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration and referred to the destructive power of the atomic bomb.

The broadcast was not live. Hirohito recorded it at the Imperial Palace on August 14, and palace staff protected the records during an attempted coup by officers who wanted to continue the war. The recording was then transported to NHK for transmission.

August 15 is often treated as Japan’s V-J Day, while the United States generally observes September 2, the date of the formal signing. Japan’s official observance is called the National Memorial Service for the War Dead and Praying for Peace.