What was Emperor Hirohito’s 15 August 1945 surrender broadcast commonly called?

Emperor Hirohito’s 15 August 1945 surrender broadcast was commonly called the Jewel Voice Broadcast.

The broadcast was the emperor’s recorded radio address announcing that Japan had accepted the provisions of the Allied declaration. It aired at noon Japan Standard Time on 15 August 1945. The Japanese name, Gyokuon-hōsō, refers figuratively to the emperor’s “jewel” or precious voice.

Hirohito did not use the ordinary Japanese word for surrender directly in the speech. Instead, he said that Japan had been instructed to accept the joint declaration. The formal, classical language and poor sound quality confused many listeners.

The address was recorded at the Imperial Palace on 14 August. A coup attempt by officers seeking to stop the broadcast failed, and the recording reached the national broadcaster NHK in time for the scheduled transmission.