What was the failed Japanese military coup of August 14–15, 1945 called?

The failed Japanese military coup of August 14–15, 1945, was called the Kyūjō incident. Rebel officers attempted to stop Emperor Hirohito’s surrender announcement and keep Japan from accepting the Allied terms.

The plotters occupied parts of the Imperial Palace grounds, murdered Lieutenant General Takeshi Mori, and searched for the recording of Hirohito’s surrender address. Their goal was to prevent the recording from reaching NHK and to place the emperor under effective control. They failed to secure broad support from senior army commanders.

The coup collapsed before the broadcast at noon on August 15. Several leading conspirators later committed suicide, while others were arrested. The incident is sometimes confused with a general popular uprising, but it was a short-lived action by military officers and allied personnel in Tokyo. Its failure allowed the emperor’s announcement to proceed and helped establish the public moment associated with Japan’s surrender.