In Japan, V-J Day was observed on August 15, 1945, when Emperor Hirohito's surrender announcement was broadcast.
The recording announced that Japan had accepted the Potsdam Declaration, which demanded the surrender of Japanese armed forces. The speech was broadcast at noon Japan Standard Time and was the first time most Japanese people had heard their emperor's voice.
The date can cause confusion because news reached different regions at different local times. In the United States, President Harry Truman announced Japan's surrender on August 14, while the formal surrender ceremony occurred on September 2.
Japan commonly refers to August 15 as the day marking the end of the war, although the government's official name for the observance emphasizes mourning for the war dead and prayers for peace.