In the formal surrender of Japan, what date is recognized as the official U.S. V-J Day?

The official U.S. V-J Day is September 2, 1945.

That was the day Japanese representatives signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, formally ending hostilities in World War II. The ceremony took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, with General Douglas MacArthur accepting the surrender for the Allied powers.

August 15 is also closely associated with V-J Day because Emperor Hirohito’s surrender announcement was broadcast in Japan on that date. Britain officially commemorates August 15, while the United States generally observes September 2 as the formal end of the war with Japan.

Time zones also created a date difference: the announcement was heard in the United States on August 14, while it was August 15 in Japan. The distinction between the announcement and the signing explains why multiple dates appear in historical accounts.