What was the title of Emperor Hirohito’s recorded radio address announcing Japan’s acceptance of the Allied terms?

Emperor Hirohito’s recorded radio address was titled the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War.

The recording was broadcast to the Japanese public at noon on August 15, 1945. Hirohito announced that Japan had accepted the provisions of the Allied declaration, although the Japanese word for “surrender” was not used directly in the speech.

The broadcast was historically unusual because it was the first time most Japanese people had heard the Emperor’s voice. Its formal language and archaic pronunciation made the message difficult for some listeners to understand, so newspapers and later explanations helped clarify its meaning.

The speech followed a tense night in which army officers attempted to seize the Imperial Palace and destroy or recover the recording. The recording survived, and the broadcast went ahead. The address announced the decision to end the war, while the legal surrender followed with the signing aboard USS Missouri on September 2.