Who was the Japanese emperor whose recorded surrender address was broadcast on August 15, 1945?

Emperor Hirohito delivered the recorded surrender address broadcast on August 15, 1945.

Hirohito, formally known after his death as Emperor Showa, announced Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. The recording was broadcast over Japanese radio at noon, and it was the first time many Japanese people had heard the emperor’s voice.

The speech used formal imperial language and did not simply say that Japan had signed a surrender document. Instead, Hirohito referred to the military situation, the use of a devastating new weapon, and the need to accept the Allied terms. The broadcast followed a tense political struggle within Japan’s leadership.

The announcement came before the formal signing aboard USS Missouri. Japan’s surrender document was signed on September 2, so August 15 marks the public announcement of the decision while September 2 marks the official ceremony.