What was the name of the 1945 coup attempt to stop Japan’s surrender broadcast?
Answer
Kyūjō Incident
The Kyūjō Incident was the 1945 coup attempt to stop Japan’s surrender broadcast.
On the night of 14–15 August 1945, a group of Japanese Army officers attempted to prevent Emperor Hirohito’s recorded surrender message from reaching the public. The recording had been made at the Imperial Palace after the Emperor accepted the Allied terms.
The rebels sought to occupy the palace, secure the recording, and persuade senior officials to continue the war. They managed to take control of parts of the palace grounds, but they could not locate the hidden recording. Senior Army leaders refused to support the coup, and the attempt collapsed before the broadcast at noon on 15 August.
The incident is also called the Imperial Palace Incident. “Kyūjō” means “Imperial Palace,” so the name describes the location rather than a separate military operation. The survival of the recording allowed Hirohito’s announcement to be transmitted to the Japanese population.