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The Gyokuon-housou 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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