On what date was V-J Day first announced to the Japanese public in 1945?

V-J Day was first announced to the Japanese public on August 15, 1945. Emperor Hirohito's recorded radio address was broadcast at noon Japan Standard Time, announcing Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration and the decision to end the war.

The broadcast followed the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's entry into the war against Japan. It was an extraordinary moment because most Japanese people had never heard the emperor's voice.

The date can be confusing because the announcement was heard as August 14 in the United States and parts of the Americas because of time-zone differences. The formal surrender ceremony occurred later, on September 2, aboard USS Missouri. Thus, V-J Day can refer to the announcement date or the formal signing date, depending on country and context.