What do the initials “V-J” stand for in “V-J Day,” marking Japan’s defeat in World War II?

“V-J” stands for “Victory over Japan,” the phrase used for the Allied victory over Japan in World War II.

The term parallels “V-E Day,” or Victory in Europe Day, which marked Nazi Germany’s surrender in May 1945. V-J Day is associated with Japan’s acceptance of the Allied surrender terms in August 1945 and, in some official contexts, the formal signing of the surrender document on September 2.

The date can cause confusion because Japan announced its surrender on August 15 in Japan, while the news reached the United States and much of the Americas on August 14 because of time-zone differences. The formal surrender ceremony followed aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

Australia commonly used “V-P Day,” meaning Victory in the Pacific, rather than V-J Day. The labels describe the same broad Allied victory, but national observances and dates have differed.