In the term V-J Day, the letter “J” stands for Japan.
“V-J” abbreviates “Victory over Japan,” following the World War II expression “V-E Day,” or Victory in Europe Day. The term refers to the Allied victory over Imperial Japan and the end of the Pacific War.
The label can refer to more than one date because surrender unfolded in stages. Japan announced its acceptance of the Allied terms on 15 August 1945 in Japan, while the announcement was heard on 14 August in much of the Americas because of time-zone differences. The formal surrender ceremony took place later, on 2 September 1945, aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
A common mix-up is treating V-J Day as only the date of the ceremony or only the date of the radio announcement. Different countries and historical sources use the term differently, but the “J” consistently identifies Japan, just as the “E” in V-E Day identifies Europe.