Which document did Japan accept before Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender in August 1945?

Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration before Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender in August 1945.

Issued on July 26 by the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, the declaration set out the Allied terms for ending Japan's war. It demanded the unconditional surrender of Japanese armed forces and warned of “prompt and utter destruction” if Japan refused.

The declaration did not specify the future status of the Japanese Emperor, an omission that complicated Japanese deliberations. Japanese leaders debated whether the terms could preserve the imperial institution while seeking clarification from the Allies. Hirohito ultimately directed the government to accept the terms, and his recorded announcement was broadcast on August 15.

The Potsdam Declaration should not be confused with the Cairo Declaration of 1943. Cairo addressed the broader Allied aims concerning Japanese territories, while Potsdam directly presented the surrender terms in 1945. The Japanese Instrument of Surrender later formalized acceptance of those terms on September 2 aboard USS Missouri.