What does the “V-J” in V-J Day stand for, referring to Japan’s 1945 surrender?

“V-J” in V-J Day stands for “Victory over Japan,” the Allied victory marking Japan’s surrender in 1945.

The abbreviation parallels “V-E Day,” which means Victory in Europe and commemorates Nazi Germany’s surrender in May 1945. V-J Day therefore identifies the Pacific war’s end rather than the European conflict.

The term became widely used in Allied countries after Japan accepted the Potsdam Declaration and Emperor Hirohito announced the decision in a radio broadcast on 15 August 1945. The formal surrender ceremony followed on 2 September aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

Different countries observed V-J Day on different dates because news traveled across time zones and because the public announcement and formal signing were separate events. In the United States, 14 August was commonly observed, while 15 August was used in many Commonwealth countries. The formal signing on 2 September is also called V-J Day in some historical accounts.