Conventional bombings seemed ineffective against the Japanese willpower, but by early 1945, surrender appeared inevitable. The Emperor, even at the beginning of that year, had resigned himself to the idea of surrender, and he wasn’t the only one; former Prime Minister, Prince Konoye, one of Hirohito's confidants, was also strongly advocating for surrender. A scenario of surrender seemed more dignified compared to a communist invasion, especially since the Soviets had already invaded Manchuria. Two days after the nuclear disaster in Hiroshima, Hirohito informed his advisor Kido Koichi that the war had to end. The Supreme War Council met on August 9, where Prime Minister Suzuki Kantaro pushed for acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration, which called for Japan’s unconditional surrender. The military refused, believing they could negotiate better terms. Even Emperor Hirohito urged the acceptance of the declaration, especially after hearing news of the second nuclear bombing in Nagasaki. On August 14, the Emperor overruled the military, who stubbornly denied the reality, and recorded a message to be broadcast to the population. Four young fanatic officers tried to prevent its transmission, but failing to do so, they took their own lives. An excerpt from the message reads:

"The situation of the war has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have turned against its interests […] The enemy has begun using a new and even more ruthless bomb; the damage it can inflict is incalculable, demanding an unbearable toll of innocent lives. To continue the war under these conditions would not only lead to the annihilation of the nation but also to the destruction of all human civilization."

It was broadcast on August 15, and the Japanese were stunned to hear the voice of their Emperor. The announcement of defeat caused shock and despair; for many, it was a source of dishonor, with 350 soldiers taking their own lives as they were unable to defend the homeland. The surrender was formally signed on September 2, 1945, aboard the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay.