Jakarta –
Emperor Hirohito announce Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945 via radio broadcast, marking the end of the cruel and painful World War II. It was announced to the Japanese people that the Japanese government accepted the Potsdam Declaration demanding unconditional surrender.
Following the August 6 bombing of Hiroshima, the Soviet Union’s declaration of war on Manchuria and the August 9 bombing of Nagasaki, Japan finally had no choice but to surrender. The speech, the first by a Japanese emperor to a commoner, was delivered in formal Classical Japanese, with many unusual pronunciations.
The speech did not directly refer to Japan’s surrender, but stated the government was required to accept a “joint declaration” by the United States, Britain, China and the Soviet Union. This confused many listeners about whether Japan really surrendered.
The speech was quite long, trying to justify the Japanese invasion and also mentioning the awesomeness of the new atomic bomb weapon. Here are some of the quotes collected by detikINET:
– After deeply contemplating the general trend of the world and the actual conditions happening in our kingdom right now, we decided to carry out a solution to the current situation using extraordinary measures. We have ordered the government to convey to the governments of the United States, Great Britain, China, and the Soviet Union that our empire accepts the terms of their joint declaration.
– Indeed, we declared war on America and Britain because of our sincere desire to ensure Japan’s self-defense and the stabilization of East Asia, far from thinking we are violating other countries’ sovereignty or to initiate territorial enlargement
– But now the war has been going on for almost 4 years. Despite everyone’s best efforts, the valiant battles of the military and naval forces, the perseverance of our country’s servants, and the loyal service of our one hundred million people, the war situation has developed not always in Japan’s favour, while the general trend of the world has all been turning against Japan’s interests.
– More than that, the enemy has begun to use a new and most vicious bomb, with the power to do damage truly immeasurable, inflicting too many innocent lives. If we continue to fight, not only will it result in the eventual collapse and annihilation of Japan, but it will also lead to the complete extinction of human civilization.
– The difficulties and suffering that will befall our nation will certainly be enormous. We are very aware of the deepest feelings of all of you. However, according to the provisions of time and destiny, we have decided to pave the way for great peace for all generations to come, by enduring what is unbearable and suffering what is unbearable.
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(fyk/fyk)
2023-07-21 05:30:57
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