In the United States, Japan’s surrender announcement was first reported as V-J Day on 14 August 1945.
The date differed from Japan’s 15 August date because of time zones. Emperor Hirohito’s recorded message was broadcast at noon in Japan on 15 August, which was still 14 August in much of the United States and the Americas. Newspapers and public celebrations therefore began there on the earlier calendar date.
V-J Day can refer to more than one milestone. In Japan and the United Kingdom, 15 August is commonly associated with the announcement. In the United States, 14 August became associated with the news of surrender, while 2 September marks the formal signing of the Instrument of Surrender.
This distinction explains why reliable sources may list different V-J Day dates without actually disagreeing about the historical sequence. The announcement, the public celebrations, and the legal surrender occurred at separate times.