In the name V-J Day, what does “V-J” stand for?

In the name V-J Day, “V-J” stands for Victory over Japan. The abbreviation parallels V-E Day, meaning Victory in Europe, which marked Nazi Germany’s surrender in May 1945.

V-J Day refers to the Allied victory over Japan at the end of World War II. Japan announced its acceptance of the Allied surrender terms in August 1945, while the formal surrender ceremony took place on September 2 aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

The date associated with V-J Day varies by country and time zone. In the United States, President Harry Truman announced Japan’s surrender on August 14, 1945, while August 15 was the major public observance in Japan and several Allied countries. September 2 is often called the official V-J Day because that was when the surrender document was signed.