In the United States, what date was declared V-J Day in 1945?

In the United States, V-J Day was declared on August 14, 1945.

The date reflected President Harry S. Truman’s announcement that Japan had accepted the Allied surrender terms. Because the announcement reached the United States on August 14 local time, American celebrations began that day, including the famous crowds in New York’s Times Square.

The date can be confusing internationally. In Japan and many other countries, the announcement was heard on August 15 because of the time difference. The formal surrender ceremony occurred later, on September 2, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

Thus, August 14 is the commonly recognized American V-J Day, while August 15 is often used elsewhere for Japan’s announcement and September 2 marks the signed surrender. These dates describe connected but distinct stages in the end of the Pacific War.