What was the name of the Allied declaration Japan accepted before signing its 1945 surrender?

The Potsdam Declaration was the Allied declaration Japan accepted before signing its 1945 surrender. Issued on July 26, 1945, it set out the conditions under which Japan’s armed forces were expected to surrender.

The declaration was issued by the United States, the United Kingdom, and China during the Potsdam Conference. It demanded Japan’s unconditional surrender and warned of “prompt and utter destruction” if Japan refused. The Soviet Union was not yet formally at war with Japan when the declaration was released.

Its terms also called for the removal of militarist influence, the occupation of selected Japanese territory, disarmament, and the establishment of democratic tendencies. Hirohito’s August 15 announcement stated that Japan would accept the declaration, while the signed instrument on September 2 made the surrender official.