The “V” in V-J Day stands for “Victory,” meaning Victory over Japan Day.
The term was modeled on V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which marked Nazi Germany’s defeat. “V-J Day” became the common Allied abbreviation for the victory over Japan and the effective end of World War II.
The label can refer to more than one date. Japan announced its acceptance of the Allied surrender terms on 15 August 1945, which was 14 August in much of the Americas because of time zones. The formal surrender ceremony took place on 2 September aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
The United Kingdom generally commemorates 15 August, while the United States has also used 2 September as its official date. Australia often uses “V-P Day,” meaning Victory in the Pacific, but V-J Day remains the internationally familiar term.