What name is commonly given to the August 15, 1945, radio address in which Hirohito announced Japan's surrender?

The August 15, 1945, radio address in which Hirohito announced Japan's surrender is commonly called the Jewel Voice Broadcast.

The Japanese name is Gyokuon-hōsō, a term referring to the emperor's voice. Hirohito did not speak live; the broadcast used a recording made the previous day. The recording was preserved during the Kyūjō Incident, when officers attempted to prevent its transmission.

The address announced that Japan had accepted the joint declaration issued by the United States, Britain, China, and later accepted by the Soviet Union. Its formal court language avoided a simple sentence saying “Japan surrenders,” which left some listeners uncertain about the meaning.

The term “Jewel Voice Broadcast” is a later English rendering and was not the only historical label used. In Japan, the event is also associated with the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War and August 15 commemorations.