The United States announced V-J Day on August 14, 1945, after Japan accepted the Allied surrender terms.
President Harry S. Truman announced the Japanese surrender from the White House on the evening of August 14 in Washington, D.C. Crowds gathered in cities across the United States, and newspapers published celebratory headlines. The date is commonly called V-J Day, meaning Victory over Japan Day.
Japan’s announcement was broadcast on August 15 according to Japanese local time. The difference reflects the international date line and time zones, so August 14 is the principal U.S. celebration date while August 15 is the date remembered in Japan and several other countries.
The formal surrender still required a later ceremony. Japanese officials signed the surrender instrument aboard USS Missouri on September 2, which is why some historical accounts distinguish the announcement of victory from the legal conclusion of hostilities.