Which 1945 declaration demanded Japan's unconditional surrender before V-J Day?

The Potsdam Declaration demanded Japan’s unconditional surrender before V-J Day. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China issued it on July 26, 1945, during the Potsdam Conference in occupied Germany.

The declaration warned Japan that refusal would bring “prompt and utter destruction.” It also outlined postwar conditions, including the disarmament of Japanese forces, the removal of militarist leadership, and the limitation of Japanese sovereignty to territories specified by the Allies.

Japan initially did not accept the declaration. After the atomic bombings, the Soviet entry into the war against Japan, and intense political debate in Tokyo, Japan accepted its terms in August. The Potsdam Declaration is distinct from the Cairo Declaration, which had been issued in 1943 and addressed the territorial aims of the Allies.