What does “V-J” mean in the name Victory over Japan Day, marking Japan’s 1945 surrender?

“V-J” means “Victory over Japan” in the name Victory over Japan Day, marking Japan’s 1945 surrender.

The abbreviation follows the Allied wartime convention of using “V-E” for Victory in Europe. V-J Day refers to Japan’s acceptance of the Allied surrender terms and, depending on the country and date being discussed, either the announcement on 15 August 1945 or the formal signing on 2 September 1945.

The date difference can cause confusion. In Japan and the United Kingdom, the announcement is generally associated with 15 August. In the United States, the official commemoration traditionally uses 2 September, when Japanese representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

“V-P,” meaning Victory in the Pacific, was also used, especially in some Allied countries. However, the canonical expansion of “V-J” is “Victory over Japan,” not “Victory in Japan.”