What was the official name of Emperor Hirohito’s recorded surrender message broadcast in August 1945?

The official name of Emperor Hirohito’s recorded surrender message was the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War.

Hirohito recorded the rescript at the Imperial Palace late on August 14, 1945. Technicians made two recordings, and the second became the version broadcast nationally at noon on August 15. The speech was not a live address; listeners heard a recording of the emperor’s voice.

The rescript announced Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration and referred to the enemy’s use of a “new and most cruel bomb.” It did not explain every factor behind the decision, including the Soviet declaration of war and invasion of Japanese-held Manchuria. Hirohito’s separate August 17 message to the armed forces placed greater emphasis on the Soviet entry.

The broadcast is popularly called the “Jewel Voice Broadcast,” or Gyokuon-hōsō. Its formal title is less familiar, and the classical language and poor audio quality made its meaning difficult for many Japanese listeners to follow immediately.