Hirohito was the Japanese emperor who delivered the 1945 surrender broadcast.
Hirohito, posthumously known by his era name Shōwa, recorded the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War after Japan's leadership accepted the Potsdam Declaration. The recording was broadcast to the Japanese public at noon on August 15, 1945.
The address was historically unusual because it was probably the first time ordinary Japanese citizens had heard the emperor's voice. Hirohito spoke in formal Classical Japanese, and many listeners found the poor-quality recording difficult to understand. The speech referred to accepting the Allied declaration and ending the war rather than using a simple modern announcement.
Hirohito remained emperor during the Allied occupation and until his death in 1989. His son Akihito later became emperor, which is why the two names are sometimes confused in questions about Japan's postwar monarchy.