Japanese emperor’s end-of-war speech can now be heard clearer than ever – but is still incomprehensible

The 4 1/2-minute speech that has reverberated throughout Japan’s modern history since it was delivered by Emperor Hirohito at the end of the second world war has come back to life in digital form.

Hirohito’s “jewel voice” – muffled and nearly inaudible due to poor sound quality – was broadcast on August 15, 1945, announcing Japan’s surrender.

On Saturday, the Imperial Household Agency released the digital version of the original sound ahead of the 70th anniversary of the speech and the war’s end. In it, the emperor’s voice appears clearer, slightly higher and more intense, but, Japanese today would still have trouble understanding the arcane language used by Hirohito.

“The language was extremely difficult,” said Tomie Kondo, 92, who listened to the 1945 broadcast in a monitoring room at NHK public broadcaster, where she worked as a newscaster.

“It’s well written if you read it, but I’m afraid not many people understood what he said,” she said. Poor reception and sound quality of the radio made it even worse.