Different days, different messages: Japan and China's WWII commemorations reflect tensions

Japan and China both observe the end of World War II, but they do so on different dates — August 15 for Japan and September 3 for China — reflecting not only differing historical events but also sharply contrasting national narratives and political objectives.

- TDG NETWORK

In Japan, August 15 marks the day in 1945 when Emperor Hirohito addressed the nation via radio to announce Japan's surrender. Known as the Gyokuon-hō (Jewel Voice Broadcast), the speech was the first time many Japanese citizens had ever heard the emperor's voice. Delivered in archaic court language and transmitted with poor audio quality, the broadcast left many confused, yet it marked a profound moment — both the end of a devastating war and the beginning of Japan's postwar transformation.

Takahisa Furukawa, a historian at Nihon University, described the broadcast as "a reminder of what it took to end the wrong war," referencing the national trauma and military overreach that led to catastrophe for Japan and its neighbors.