It was on August 14, 1945, that Japan communicated to the Allied powers that it would surrender. The official announcement from Tokyo came the (36)________day.
It was the day-after Tokyo sent its surrender notice to the Allies that its own people learned the news. On August 15, 1945, Japan’’s national radio network (37)________ the power of its transmitters for an unprecedented broadcast address of the "Voice of the Crane"—the emperor. Until that (38)________day, ordinary Japanese had never heard their emperor speak.
Speaking in archaic (39)________ language understood by few of his subjects, Emperor Hirohito told Japan that the (40)________of battle had not necessarily developed to the nation’’s advantage. While most Japanese reacted with (41)________ silence, there was jubilation across Asia as countries quickly realized they were being liberated from a long period of (42)________ and militarism.
Sixty years on, Japan still seems to have difficulty (43)________ to grips with its defeat. The media focus here every August is on the U. S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (44)________________________.
Every year on August 15, some cabinet ministers visit Tokyo’’s Yasukuni Shrine, setting off protests by Asian governments, (45)________________________.
Although August 14 and 15 are celebrated as the end of the war, it was not until September 2, 1945, that (46)________________________.