What was the 1945 radio broadcast of Japan's surrender commonly called?

The 1945 radio broadcast of Japan's surrender was commonly called Gyokuon-hoso. The Japanese term means “Jewel Voice Broadcast,” referring to the emperor's voice being heard publicly by the nation for the first time.

Emperor Hirohito recorded the speech on August 14, 1945, at the Imperial Palace. In it, he announced Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration and instructed the Japanese people to endure the unendurable. The recording was broadcast at noon on August 15.

The speech did not use the simple phrase “we surrender” in the way modern listeners might expect. Its formal language and references to the changing military situation caused confusion, although the public understood that the war was ending.

The broadcast occurred amid political danger. Some military officers tried to seize the palace and destroy the recording before transmission. This failed, and the recording reached Japanese listeners. The announcement is distinct from the later September 2 signing ceremony, which legally formalized the surrender.