Hirohito surrender broadcast

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox radio show The Hirohito surrender broadcast (Template:Langx, Template:Lit),Template:Efn was a radio broadcast of surrender given by Hirohito, the emperor of Japan, on August 15, 1945.

File:Emperor Hirohito announcing the surrender of Japan.jpg

Hirohito (right) in 1945

It announced to the Japanese people that the Japanese government had accepted the Potsdam Declaration, which demanded the unconditional surrender of the Japanese military at the end of World War II. Following the Hiroshima bombing on August 6, and the Soviet declaration of war and Nagasaki bombing on August 9, the Emperor's speech was broadcast at noon Japan Standard Time on August 15, 1945, and referred to the atomic bombs as a reason for the surrender.

The speech is the first known instance of a Japanese emperor speaking to the common people (albeit via a phonograph record). It was delivered in formal Classical Japanese, with much pronunciation unfamiliar to ordinary Japanese. The speech made no direct reference to a surrender of Japan, instead stating that the government had been instructed to accept the "joint declaration" (the Potsdam Declaration) of the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and the Soviet Union. This confused many listeners not familiar with the declaration about whether Japan had actually surrendered. Both the poor audio quality of the radio broadcast and the formal courtly language worsened the confusion.

RecordingEdit

The speech was not broadcast directly, but replayed from a phonograph recording. On August 14, 1945, the NHK dispatched sound technicians to the Imperial Palace to record the broadcast. Microphones were set up in an office bunker under the Imperial Household Ministry, and Emperor Hirohito proceeded in between 11:25Template:Spacesp.m. and 11:30Template:Spacesp.m.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> During the first recording he spoke too softly, and upon the advice of the technicians, offered to rerecord it. On the second attempt, his voice was considered too high-pitched, with occasional characters being skipped. Nevertheless, the second version was deemed the official one, with the first serving as a backup.<ref name=therisingsun>Template:Cite book</ref>

BroadcastEdit

Template:See also Many elements of the Imperial Japanese Army refused to accept that Hirohito was going to end the war, believing it dishonourable. As many as 1,000 officers and army soldiers raided the Imperial Palace on the evening of August 14, 1945 to destroy the recording. The rebels were confused by the layout of the palace and unable to find the recordings, which had been hidden in a pile of documents. The two phonographs were labelled original and copy and successfully smuggled out of the palace, the original in a lacquer box and the copy in a lunch bag. Major Kenji Hatanaka attempted to halt the broadcast at the NHK station, but was ordered to desist by the Eastern District Army.<ref name=therisingsun /><ref name=Rescript>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On the morning of August 15, 1945, all NHK stations announced that the Emperor would address the nation at noon. Many people wore formal clothes for the occasion. At precisely noon that day, an NHK announcer instructed the nation to stand for an announcement "of the highest importance." The national anthem, Template:Transliteration, was played, followed by the Emperor's speech.<ref name=therisingsun /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Reportedly, this was the first time that common Japanese had heard the voice of any Japanese Emperor and the first radio address by the Emperor.<ref name=Rescript/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

To ease the anticipated confusion, after the conclusion of the speech, a radio announcer clarified that the Emperor's message had meant that Japan was surrendering. According to French journalist Robert Guillain, who then lived in Tokyo, upon the announcement's conclusion, most Japanese retreated to their homes or places of business for several hours to quietly absorb and contemplate the significance of the announcement.Template:R A digitally remastered version of the broadcast was released in June 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ContentEdit

Though the word "surrender" (Template:Langx) was not explicitly used, Emperor Hirohito instructed Prime Minister Kantarō Suzuki and his administration to communicate to the Allies that the "Empire accepts the provisions of their joint declaration", which amounted to an acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration.<ref name=Rescript/> He justified Japan's decision to go to war as an act of "self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia" and referenced the setbacks and defeats of recent years, saying "the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage". He mentioned the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that had occurred days earlier, calling the atomic bomb a "new and most cruel bomb". The Emperor ended with a call on the Japanese people "to be devoted to construction for the future".

File:Japanese civilians listening to the surrender broadcast.jpg

Japanese civilians listening to the surrender broadcast

The broadcast was translated into English and broadcast internationally by radio presenter Tadaichi Hirakawa at the same time.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recorded the broadcast, and its entire text appeared in The New York Times.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Full textEdit

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File:ImperialSurrenderRescript.jpg

Single page print of the Rescript, again with the Privy Seal

Original textEdit

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I have considered deeply the general trends of the world and the current situation of the Empire, and I have decided to take extraordinary measures to bring the current state of affairs to an end. I hereby inform my loyal and devoted subjects.
I have commanded the Imperial Government to communicate to the governments of the United States, Great Britain, China, and the Soviet Union that the Empire accepts the terms of their Joint Declaration.
To strive for the well-being of my subjects and to share in the prosperity and happiness of all nations has been the solemn duty passed down from my Imperial ancestors and the guiding principle that I have upheld. Indeed, my decision to declare war on the United States and Britain was made with the sincere intention of ensuring the Empire’s self-preservation and the stability of East Asia. It was never my desire to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to expand our territory.
However, after four years of war, despite the valiant efforts of our land and naval forces, the diligence of our government officials, and the devoted service of our hundred million subjects, the war situation has not necessarily turned in Japan’s favor. Moreover, the general trends of the world have not been advantageous to us.
Furthermore, the enemy has begun to employ a new and cruel bomb, causing immense and indiscriminate destruction, the extent of which is beyond all estimation. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in the ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but it would also lead to the total extinction of human civilization.
How, then, am I to protect the millions of my subjects and atone before the spirits of my Imperial ancestors?
This is why I have ordered the Empire to accept the terms of the Joint Declaration.
I cannot but express my deepest regret to our allied nations who have consistently cooperated with the Empire in its efforts to liberate East Asia.
To my loyal subjects who have fallen in battle, those who have devoted themselves to their duties, and the families who have suffered unbearable losses, my heart is filled with sorrow.
Furthermore, I deeply sympathize with those who have been wounded in battle, suffered hardship, or lost their homes and livelihoods due to the war.
The trials and suffering that the Empire must endure from now on will indeed be great. I fully understand the anguish of my people. However, in accordance with the dictates of fate, I must bear the unbearable and endure the unendurable in order to pave the way for peace for all future generations.
By protecting and preserving the national polity, I trust in the sincerity and loyalty of my subjects and will always remain with them.
However, should emotions run high and lead to rash actions, if fellow citizens turn against each other, disrupt the order of society, or tarnish the nation's honor by violating international trust, I would be profoundly saddened.
I urge you, my subjects, to unite as one family, pass on our unshakable faith in the eternal destiny of our homeland to future generations, devote your efforts to rebuilding the nation, uphold moral integrity, strengthen your will, and strive to enhance the national character, ensuring that Japan does not fall behind in the progress of the world.
Understand well my intentions and act accordingly.
Sealed with the Imperial Sign and Seal August 14, 1945 Prime Minister Baron Kantarō Suzuki{{#if:|{{#if:|}}

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Official English translationEdit

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