玉ぎょく音おん放ほう送そう

ぎょ

く

お

ん

ほ

う

そ

う

Meanings

noun

Imperial broadcast of surrender; Hirohito's radio address ending WWII

historical term

Specifically refers to the recorded radio broadcast of Emperor Hirohito on August 15, 1945, announcing Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration and the end of World War II. A historical term with no modern usage outside this context.

Kanji

玉jewel, ball
音sound, noise
放set free, release, fire
送escort, send

Related words

ポツダム宣せん言げん
The Potsdam Declaration was the Allied ultimatum that Japan accepted, leading to the broadcast. 玉音放送 is the event of the broadcast itself.

Built from

玉ぎょく音おん+放ほう送そう

Etymology

From 玉音 (gyokuon, 'the Emperor's voice', an honorific term) and 放送 (hōsō, 'broadcast'). The term is historically specific to the 1945 surrender announcement.