In “V-J Day,” what do the initials “V-J” stand for?

In “V-J Day,” the initials “V-J” stand for Victory over Japan.

The phrase followed the earlier expression “V-E Day,” meaning Victory in Europe, which marked Nazi Germany’s surrender in May 1945. V-J Day identified the Allied victory over Japan and the effective end of World War II in the Pacific and Asia.

The expression was used differently across countries because news of Japan’s surrender traveled across time zones. In the United States, celebrations began after Truman’s August 14 announcement, while many British Commonwealth countries observed the news on August 15. September 2 was also officially designated V-J Day by Truman in connection with the formal signing.

The term describes victory over Japan, not victory in Japan or a Japanese military victory. It also does not necessarily identify one single universally observed date. The August announcement and September ceremony were separate stages in the end of the war.