V-J Day is the common abbreviation for Victory over Japan Day, commemorating Japan’s surrender in 1945.
The term parallels V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which marked Nazi Germany’s surrender in May 1945. V-J Day refers to the end of the war against Japan and, in the broader sense, the conclusion of World War II. The letters “V” and “J” stand for victory over Japan.
Different countries and historical accounts use the term for different dates. In the United States, V-J Day commonly refers to August 14 or 15, when Japan’s acceptance of the Allied terms was announced because of time-zone differences. September 2 is also associated with V-J Day because that was the date of the formal surrender ceremony.
The phrase is therefore commemorative rather than a single universally observed calendar date. The distinction is especially important when comparing celebrations in North America, Japan, and countries in the Pacific.