Which declaration did Japan accept when announcing its World War II surrender?

Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration when announcing its World War II surrender.

The declaration was issued on July 26, 1945, by the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. It demanded Japan’s unconditional surrender and outlined broad Allied goals, including the elimination of militarism and the occupation of Japanese territory needed to enforce the terms.

The Soviet Union did not initially sign the declaration because it was still neutral in the war against Japan. After the Soviet Union entered the war against Japan in August, it joined the Allied position. Japan’s acceptance was announced in Hirohito’s August 15 radio broadcast.

The Potsdam Declaration was not itself the final surrender document. That document, signed on September 2 aboard USS Missouri, formally recorded Japan’s capitulation. The declaration therefore supplied the terms, while the Instrument of Surrender documented their acceptance.