Emperor Hirohito’s recorded speech announced Japan’s surrender to the public in August 1945.
Hirohito addressed the Japanese people in a radio broadcast at noon Japan Standard Time on August 15, 1945. He explained that Japan had accepted the Allied declaration and urged the public to endure the difficult circumstances that followed.
The speech was not delivered live. It had been recorded at the Imperial Palace on August 14, after intense political debate over the wording. Engineers from Japan’s broadcasting organization, NHK, prepared the recording, which was then replayed to the nation.
Many listeners had never heard the emperor’s voice before. The formal classical Japanese language, unfamiliar pronunciation, and poor audio quality made the announcement difficult for some people to understand. Hirohito remained emperor after the surrender and was not prosecuted at the Tokyo war-crimes tribunal. Under the postwar settlement, the monarchy continued but the emperor became a constitutional symbol rather than an absolute ruler.