What was the name of Japan’s recorded surrender broadcast to its people in 1945?

Japan’s recorded surrender broadcast was called the Gyokuon-hōsō.

The broadcast aired at noon on August 15, 1945, with Emperor Hirohito reading the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War. The Japanese term is commonly translated as “Jewel Voice Broadcast,” referring respectfully to the emperor’s voice. It announced that Japan had accepted the Potsdam Declaration.

The recording was made the previous day at the Imperial Palace. Some army officers opposed the surrender and attempted to prevent the recording from being broadcast during the Kyūjō incident, a failed coup attempt. The recording survived and was delivered to the radio station.

Many listeners struggled to understand the address because it used formal classical Japanese rather than ordinary speech. Hirohito also avoided a straightforward phrase equivalent to “Japan surrenders,” which caused confusion. The broadcast was distinct from the formal surrender ceremony held aboard USS Missouri more than two weeks later.