In the United States, Japan’s surrender announcement was celebrated as V-J Day on August 14, 1945.
The date reflected the time difference between Japan and the Americas. Emperor Hirohito’s recorded announcement was broadcast in Japan shortly after noon on August 15, but President Harry S. Truman announced the news to the United States on August 14, Washington time. Newspapers and crowds in American cities therefore treated August 14 as the announcement day.
The date can be confusing because V-J Day has more than one associated date. August 15 is the main commemoration date in Japan and many other countries, while September 2 marks the formal signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender aboard USS Missouri. The signing legally and ceremonially ended hostilities with Japan, but the public celebrations began when the surrender news was announced.
The abbreviation V-J means “Victory over Japan,” following the earlier V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day. Australia also commonly used the term V-P Day, meaning Victory in the Pacific.