World War II was officially over at 9:25 a.m. Japan Standard Time after Japan signed its surrender in 1945.
The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. The ceremony began shortly after 9 a.m., with the Japanese representatives signing first and the Allied representatives signing afterward.
At 9:25 a.m., the formal proceedings concluded and the surrender took effect, marking the end of hostilities with Japan. This precise time is different from the dates on which Japan’s surrender was announced. Emperor Hirohito’s recorded radio address was broadcast to the Japanese public on August 15, while news reached much of the United States on August 14 because of time-zone differences.
The distinction explains why V-J Day can refer to August 14, August 15, or September 2, depending on the country and the historical event being discussed.