Editing Hirohito surrender broadcast (section)

== Full text ==
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|caption=Original manuscript of the Imperial Rescript on the Termination of the War,
written vertically in columns going from top to bottom and ordered from right to left, with the [[Privy Seal of Japan|Privy Seal]] imprinted
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[[File:ImperialSurrenderRescript.jpg|right|thumb|Single page print of the Rescript, again with the [[Privy Seal of Japan|Privy Seal]]]]

=== Original text ===
{{Blockquote|{{lang|ja|朕&#xe0102;深ク世界ノ大勢ト帝國ノ現狀トニ鑑ミ非常ノ措置ヲ以テ時局ヲ收拾セムト欲シ茲ニ忠良ナル爾臣民ニ&#21567;ク<br>朕&#xe0102;ハ帝國政府ヲシテ米英支蘇四國ニ對シ其ノ共同宣言ヲ受諾スル旨通&#xE0101;&#21567;セシメタリ<br>抑〻帝國臣民ノ康&#63839;ヲ圖リ萬邦&#xE0102;共榮ノ樂ヲ偕ニスルハ皇&#xfa50;皇宗ノ遺&#xE0101;範ニシテ朕&#xe0102;ノ拳&#xe0101;拳&#xe0101;措カサル所&#xE0101;<br>曩ニ米英二國ニ宣戰セル所&#xE0101;以モ亦實ニ帝國ノ自存ト東亞ノ安定トヲ庻幾スルニ出テ他國ノ主&#xe0101;權ヲ排シ領土ヲ侵&#xe0101;スカ如キハ固ヨリ朕&#xe0102;カ志ニアラス<br>然ルニ交&#xe0101;戰已ニ四歲ヲ&#38321;シ朕&#xe0102;カ陸&#64069;將兵ノ勇&#xe0101;戰朕&#xe0102;カ百僚有司ノ勵&#xfa1d;朕&#xe0102;カ一億衆&#xe0101;庻ノ奉公&#xe0101;各〻最善ヲ盡セルニ拘ラス戰局必スシモ好轉セス<br>世界ノ大勢亦我ニ利アラス<br>加之敵ハ新ニ殘虐&#xe0101;ナル爆彈ヲ使&#xe0101;用シテ&#64106;ニ無辜ヲ殺&#xe0100;傷シ慘害&#xe0102;ノ及&#xE0101;フ所&#xE0101;眞ニ測ルヘカラサルニ至ル<br>而モ尙交&#xe0101;戰ヲ繼續セムカ終&#xE0101;ニ我カ民族ノ滅亡&#xe0101;ヲ招來スルノミナラス延&#xe0102;テ人&#63952;ノ文&#xe0101;明&#xe0101;ヲモ破却スヘシ<br>斯ノ如クムハ朕&#xe0102;何ヲ以テカ億兆ノ赤子ヲ保シ皇&#xfa50;皇宗ノ&#64025;靈ニ謝セムヤ<br>是レ朕&#xe0102;カ帝國政府ヲシテ共同宣言ニ應セシムルニ至レル所&#xE0101;以ナリ<br>朕&#xe0102;ハ帝國ト共ニ終&#xE0101;始東亞ノ解放ニ協力セル&#64034;盟&#xe0101;邦&#xE0102;ニ對シ遺&#xE0101;憾ノ意&#xe0101;ヲ表セサルヲ得ス<br>帝國臣民ニシテ戰陣ニ死シ職域ニ殉シ非命ニ斃レタル&#64091;及&#xE0101;其ノ遺&#xE0101;族ニ想ヲ𦤶セハ五內爲ニ裂ク<br>且戰傷ヲ負&#xe0102;ヒ災&#64082;ヲ蒙リ家業ヲ失ヒタル&#64091;ノ厚生ニ至リテハ朕&#xe0102;ノ深ク軫念スル所&#xE0101;ナリ<br>惟フニ今後帝國ノ受クヘキ苦&#64104;ハ固ヨリ尋&#xe0101;常ニアラス<br>爾臣民ノ衷情&#xE0101;モ朕&#xe0102;善ク之ヲ知ル<br>然レトモ朕&#xe0102;ハ時運&#xE0101;ノ趨ク所&#xE0101;堪ヘ&#64104;キヲ堪ヘ忍&#xE0101;ヒ&#64104;キヲ忍&#xE0101;ヒ以テ萬世ノ爲ニ太平&#xE0101;ヲ開カムト欲ス<br>朕&#xe0102;ハ茲ニ國體ヲ護持シ得テ忠良ナル爾臣民ノ赤誠&#xe0101;ニ信倚シ常ニ爾臣民ト共ニ在リ<br>若シ夫レ情&#xE0101;ノ激スル所&#xE0101;濫ニ事端ヲ滋&#xE0101;クシ或ハ同胞&#xE0101;排擠互ニ時局ヲ亂リ爲ニ大道&#xE0101;ヲ誤&#xE0101;リ信義ヲ世界ニ失フカ如キハ朕&#xe0102;最モ之ヲ戒ム<br>宜シク擧國一家子孫相傳ヘ確ク&#64025;州ノ不滅ヲ信シ任重クシテ道&#xE0101;遠&#xE0101;キヲ念ヒ總力ヲ將來ノ建&#xe0101;設ニ傾ケ道&#xE0101;義ヲ篤クシ志操ヲ鞏クシ誓テ國體ノ&#xfa1d;華ヲ發揚シ世界ノ進&#xE0101;運&#xE0101;ニ後レサラムコトヲ期&#xe0101;スヘシ<br>爾臣民其レ克ク朕&#xe0102;カ意&#xE0101;ヲ體セヨ<p>御名御璽<br>昭和二十年八月&#xe0101;十四日<br>內閣總理大臣男爵&#xe0102;鈴木貫太郞</p>}}}}Literally translated into English:
{{Blockquote|text=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}}

===Official English translation===
{{blockquote|''TO OUR GOOD AND LOYAL SUBJECTS,''

After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in [[Empire of Japan|our empire]] today, we{{efn|The pronoun used in Japanese was {{Nihongo|''chin''|朕|}}, comparable to the [[royal we|royal ''we'']] in English.}} have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure.

We have ordered our government to communicate to the governments of the United States, Great Britain, [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|China]] and the [[Soviet Union]] that our empire accepts the provisions of [[Potsdam Declaration|their joint declaration]].<ref name="ProclamationTerms">{{cite web|date = July 26, 1945 |title = Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender|url = http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c06.html |website=Birth of the Constitution of Japan |publisher=National Diet Library |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923003731/https://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c06.html |archive-date= Sep 23, 2023 }}</ref>

To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by [[List of emperors of Japan|our imperial ancestors]] and which lies close to our heart.

Indeed, we declared [[Pacific War|war on America and Britain]] out of our sincere desire to ensure Japan's self-preservation and the stabilization of [[East Asia]], it being far from our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement.

But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone&nbsp;– the gallant fighting of the [[Imperial Japanese Army|military]] and [[Imperial Japanese Navy|naval forces]], the diligence and assiduity of our servants of the state, and the devoted service of our one hundred million people&nbsp;– the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.

Moreover, the enemy has begun to [[Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|employ a new and most cruel bomb]], the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.

Such being the case, how are we to save the millions of our subjects, or to atone ourselves before the hallowed spirits of our imperial ancestors? This is the reason why we have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the joint declaration of the powers.

We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to our allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently cooperated with the Empire towards the emancipation of East Asia.

The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met with untimely death and all their bereaved families, pains our heart night and day.

The welfare of the wounded and the war-sufferers, and of those who have lost their homes and livelihood, are the objects of our profound solicitude.

The hardships and sufferings to which our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that We have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the unendurable and suffering what is insufferable.

Having been able to safeguard and maintain the {{Transliteration|ja|[[Kokutai]]}}, We are always with you, our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity.

Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion which may engender needless complications, or any fraternal contention and strife which may create confusion, lead you astray and cause you to lose the confidence of the world.

Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith in the imperishability of its sacred land, and mindful of its heavy burden of responsibility, and of the long road before it.

Unite your total strength, to be devoted to construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude, foster nobility of spirit, and work with resolution&nbsp;– so that you may enhance the innate glory of the imperial state and keep pace with the progress of the world.

[[File:Showa shomei.svg|70px|alt=Hirohito]]
[[File:Gyoji.svg|100px|alt=(Privy Seal)]]

Tokyo, August 14, 1945 (20th year of [[Shōwa era|Shōwa]]) |sign= [[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]] [[Kantarō Suzuki]]|source=}}