Emperor Hirohito’s 1945 surrender broadcast was called Gyokuon-hōsō.
The Japanese term is commonly translated as “Jewel Voice Broadcast” or “玉音放送.” It refers to the emperor’s voice being heard over the radio, with “jewel” serving as an honorific description of imperial speech. Hirohito’s recorded address was transmitted nationwide by NHK on August 15, 1945.
The speech announced Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration, which demanded the end of Japanese resistance. Hirohito referred to the new atomic weapons and the changing military situation, but he did not use the plain word “surrender” in the same direct way modern summaries often do.
The broadcast was unusual because Japanese emperors had not previously addressed the general population by radio. Its formal classical language and indistinct recording made it hard for many listeners to follow. Gyokuon-hōsō therefore names the broadcast itself, not the later signing ceremony or the surrender document.