What was the exact date of Japan’s surrender announcement to its public in 1945?

Japan’s surrender announcement to its public occurred on August 15, 1945.

At noon Japan Standard Time, Emperor Hirohito’s recorded address was broadcast by NHK. He announced that Japan had accepted the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration, effectively telling the country that the war was ending.

The address came after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Soviet declaration of war, and intense debate inside Japan’s government and military leadership. Hirohito intervened in favor of accepting the Allied terms when the cabinet was deadlocked.

August 15 is often called V-J Day, short for Victory over Japan Day, especially in countries that mark the public announcement. It is different from September 2, when Japan formally signed the surrender instrument aboard USS Missouri.

The recording was not a live broadcast. It had been made the previous night and was nearly stopped by officers who tried to prevent the emperor’s message from reaching the public. The attempted coup failed, and the recording was transmitted as planned.