surrender of Japan

The surrender of Japan in August 1945 brought World War II to a close. On August 10, 1945, after the invasion of Manchuria by the Soviet Union and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan's leaders at the Imperial conference (gozenkaigi) decided, in principle, to accept the uncompromising terms the Allies had set down for ending the war in the Potsdam Declaration. It was after several more days of behind-the-scenes negotiations and a failed coup attempt that Emperor Hirohito gave a radio address to the nation, the Imperial Rescript on Surrender, announcing the acceptance on August 15. In this address, the Emperor emphasized the role of the atomic bombings in his decision, saying, "The enemy now possesses a new and terrible weapon with the power to destroy many innocent lives and do incalculable damage". A separate re-script issued to Japan's armed forces on August 17, did not mention the atomic bombings but emphasized the Soviet invasion. Controversy still exists over the reasons behind Japan's decision to surrender. On August 28, the occupation of Japan by Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers began. On September 2, the Japanese government signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, which officially ended World War II. Some isolated commands of Japan's far-flung forces refused to surrender for months and years after.
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