In the United States, on what date was Japan's surrender first announced as V-J Day in 1945?

In the United States, Japan's surrender was first announced as V-J Day on August 14, 1945.

The date reflected time-zone differences. Emperor Hirohito's surrender broadcast was heard in Japan on August 15, but it was still August 14 in the United States and much of the Americas. Newspapers and radio stations quickly reported the news, prompting celebrations across Allied countries.

The announcement did not yet represent the formal signing of surrender documents. That ceremony occurred on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. For that reason, V-J Day can refer either to the August announcement or, in some official contexts, to the September ceremony.

This creates a common mix-up: August 15 is the principal date in Japan and the United Kingdom, while September 2 is the official commemoration used by the United States. All three dates relate to the end of Japan's war, but they mark different stages of the surrender process.