For the first time, the Japanese Nation faced defeat.

On August 15th, 1945, the Japanese people faced utter destruction. Millions of soldiers and civilians were dead, the rest were starving, and their cities had been reduced to piles rubble -- two of them vaporized by atomic bombs. The government was deadlocked; some ministers called for surrender, and others argued that honor demanded a final battle on home soil. To break the impasse, the cabinet took the unprecedented step of asking the Emperor to decide the fate of the nation.

Unable to bear the suffering of his people any longer, and finally given the power to do something about it, the Emperor decreed that Japan would surrender.

Much work remained to be done: the Imperial Rescript had to be composed, the Emperor had to record it, and it had to be broadcast to the nation. And there were many soldiers and civilians who could not accept surrender, and would do anything -- even commit treason -- to avoid it.

In a single 24 hour period, the fate of 100 million people would be decided.

This is the true story of August 15th, 1945... Japan's Longest Day.