In the Americas, on what date was Japan's surrender first announced during World War II?

In the Americas, Japan's surrender was first announced on August 14, 1945. Because of time-zone differences, the announcement was already August 15 in Japan and much of East Asia.

U.S. President Harry S. Truman announced that Japan had accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration in a nationwide radio address. The announcement began celebrations known as V-J Day, although Truman emphasized that the formal surrender still had to be signed.

The date is sometimes confused with August 15, when Emperor Hirohito's recorded announcement was broadcast to the Japanese public, or September 2, when the surrender document was signed aboard USS Missouri. All three dates appear in historical discussions, but August 14 is the American calendar date for the initial public announcement.