What does the “V-J” in V-J Day mean?

The “V-J” in V-J Day means “Victory over Japan.” The abbreviation followed the Allied naming pattern of V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which marked Nazi Germany’s surrender in May 1945.

V-J Day refers to Japan’s surrender in World War II, although different countries and sources use different dates. In Japan and the United Kingdom, the term commonly refers to August 15, 1945, when Emperor Hirohito’s surrender announcement was broadcast. In the United States, September 2 is the official commemoration because Japan signed the formal surrender document that day.

The announcement date also varied by time zone. It was August 14 in the United States and much of the Americas, but August 15 in Japan. This explains why historical photographs, newspaper headlines, and commemorations sometimes attach V-J Day to different calendar dates. The term describes victory over Japan, not victory in the European theater.