What is Emperor Hirohito’s recorded surrender broadcast known as?

Emperor Hirohito’s recorded surrender broadcast is known as the Gyokuon-hōsō.

Hirohito recorded the speech on 14 August 1945, and it was broadcast at noon on 15 August. The Japanese expression means “Jewel Voice Broadcast,” a respectful reference to the emperor’s voice. It announced that Japan had accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and would end the war.

For many Japanese listeners, the broadcast was historic because it was probably the first time the emperor’s voice had been heard publicly by ordinary people. The speech used formal classical Japanese and did not plainly use the everyday word “surrender,” so many listeners found it difficult to understand immediately.

The broadcast date is not the same as the date of the formal surrender ceremony. Hirohito’s announcement came on 15 August in Japan, while the Instrument of Surrender was signed aboard USS Missouri on 2 September. The time-zone difference also explains why many Americans marked V-J Day on 14 August.