Which Japanese emperor announced Japan's surrender in a radio address on August 15, 1945?

Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender in a radio address on August 15, 1945. His recorded message was broadcast at noon in Japan and told the public that the government had accepted the Potsdam Declaration.

The address was historically unusual because it was the first time most Japanese civilians had heard the emperor's voice. Hirohito spoke in formal classical Japanese, and many listeners found the language and poor audio quality difficult to understand.

The speech did not use a simple sentence such as “Japan surrenders.” Instead, it referred to accepting the Allied declaration and ending the war. Radio announcers clarified the meaning after the recording ended.

The broadcast followed the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet declaration of war on Japan. The formal surrender ceremony still took place on September 2 aboard USS Missouri.