On what date did the United States observe V-J Day after Japan’s surrender announcement?

The United States observed V-J Day on August 14, 1945, after Japan’s surrender announcement.

President Harry S. Truman announced the news in a radio address broadcast in the United States on August 14. Because of the time difference, the announcement corresponded to August 15 in Japan, when Emperor Hirohito’s recorded message was broadcast to the Japanese public.

This explains why V-J Day is associated with two dates. August 14 is the traditional U.S. date, while August 15 is used in Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, and several other countries. The formal signing still occurred later, on September 2, aboard USS Missouri.

Truman also clarified that the final proclamation of V-J Day would await the formal signing of the surrender terms. Public celebrations nevertheless began immediately, including the famous Times Square photograph taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt. The different local dates are therefore a matter of time zones and distinct milestones, not a disagreement about when Japan communicated its decision.