End of War Commemoration Day

What Is End of War Commemoration Day?

Every August 15th is "End of War Commemoration Day" (終戦記念日, Shūsen Kinenbi) in Japan. At noon on August 15, 1945, a recording of Emperor Showa (Hirohito) reading the imperial rescript ending the war was broadcast on radio -- the "Gyokuon Hōsō" (玉音放送, "Jewel Voice Broadcast") -- informing the nation that Japan had accepted the Potsdam Declaration and would end the war. On April 13, 1982, the Japanese Cabinet designated this date "the Day for Mourning of War Dead and Praying for Peace." It is a day to mourn the war dead -- said to number around 3.1 million Japanese alone -- to reflect on a war that claimed the lives of people in many countries, and to renew one's commitment to peace.

The Road to August 15, 1945

The end of the war was not decided in a single day. It came after a series of meetings and difficult decisions.

• Accepting the Potsdam Declaration: After fierce debate between the government and the military, acceptance was decided by the Emperor's so-called "sacred decision" at an Imperial Conference, and the Allies were notified on August 14.
• The Gyokuon Hōsō: On the night of August 14, the Emperor read the rescript inside the Imperial Palace and it was recorded onto discs. The recording was broadcast at noon the next day by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (today's NHK). It was the first time the Emperor's own voice reached the general public.

The National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead

Every August 15th, the government holds the "National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead" (全国戦没者追悼式) at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. It has been held on August 15 since 1963, and at the Budokan since 1965. At the noon time signal -- the hour of the 1945 broadcast -- all attendees stand for a minute of silent prayer.

Fun Facts About End of War Day

• The "end of the war" differs by country: The United States marks September 2, the day Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender, as V-J Day, while China and some others mark September 3. In the United Kingdom, however, VJ Day is August 15.
• The surrender was signed on September 2: Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945, when its representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Many Japanese high-school history textbooks treat that date as the end of the war.
• Liberation Day in Korea: On the Korean Peninsula, August 15 marks liberation from Japanese rule; in South Korea it is the national holiday Gwangbokjeol.
• Fighting continued after August 15: In southern Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands and elsewhere, fighting with Soviet forces continued even after August 15.
• Overlapping with Obon: August 15 falls during the month-delayed Obon season, and has long been felt as a time to remember both ancestors and the war dead.

Ways to Mark the Day

• Observe a minute of silence at the noon time signal
• Ask family members or people close to you about the war years
• Watch documentary footage, or read memoirs and literature from the war era
• Visit a nearby war memorial site or museum

A Day to Carry Memories Forward and Think About Peace

More than 80 years have passed since the war ended, and fewer and fewer people remember it firsthand. August 15 is a day to mourn those who died in the war, listen to the experiences of those who lived through it, and quietly reflect on the peace that underpins our lives today.