In the 1945 surrender of Japan, what date did U.S. President Harry Truman designate as V-J Day?

President Harry Truman designated September 2, 1945, as V-J Day for the United States.

The date marked the formal surrender ceremony, when Japanese representatives signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The signing officially ended organized hostilities between Japan and the Allied powers in World War II.

V-J Day can refer to more than one date because news traveled across time zones and different countries adopted different commemorations. Emperor Hirohito’s surrender announcement was broadcast in Japan on August 15, while the announcement reached much of the United States on August 14. The United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries commonly observe August 15, whereas the official American commemoration is September 2.

The date should not be confused with the day Japan first communicated its willingness to surrender or with the date of the emperor’s radio address. September 2 is specifically tied to the signed document and the official ceremony.