Gyokuon-housou
The Gyokuon-housou (玉音放送) is the Imperial broadcast announcement in which the Japanese emperor Hirohito addressed the Japanese public concerning the unconditional surrender of the Japanese military at the end of World War II at noon JST on August 15, 1945.
It marked the first time in history that an emperor of Japan had spoken directly, albeit via radio, to the common people. Delivering this speech was also to be one of Hirohito's last acts as a head of state, and the act which shattered a centuries-old claim that he and those before him were descendants of the sun goddess Amaterasu.
The speech was delivered in a formal, somewhat archaic Japanese used only by the old Imperial Court. Because of this, it was not completely understood by those who heard it.
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See also: History of Japan, World War II, Hirohito
