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

In the phrase “V-J Day,” the letter V stands for “Victory.”

V-J Day means Victory over Japan Day, the name used for celebrations marking Japan’s surrender in World War II. The term parallels V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which marked Germany’s surrender in May 1945.

Different countries and communities have used different dates for V-J Day. In the United States, August 14, 1945, was widely celebrated after President Harry Truman announced Japan’s acceptance of the surrender terms. September 2, the date of the formal signing aboard USS Missouri, is also called V-J Day.

In Japan, August 15 is commonly associated with the end of the war because that was when the emperor’s surrender broadcast was heard by the public. These date differences reflect announcement time zones and the distinction between announcement and formal signing.