On what date was Hirohito’s surrender broadcast heard in Japan during World War II?

Hirohito’s surrender broadcast was heard in Japan on August 15, 1945. The recorded message announced that Japan had accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and would end the war.

The broadcast occurred at noon Japan Standard Time and was known as the Gyokuon-hōsō, or “Jewel Voice Broadcast.” It was not a live speech: Hirohito recorded it at the Imperial Palace the previous night, and the recording was replayed over the radio.

The date can cause confusion because the announcement reached the United States on August 14 due to time-zone differences. The formal surrender ceremony came later, on September 2, aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Thus, August 15 marks Japan’s public announcement, while September 2 marks the signing ceremony.