What does “V-J” stand for in Victory over Japan Day, the 1945 commemoration of Japan’s surrender?

“V-J” stands for “Victory over Japan” in Victory over Japan Day, the 1945 commemoration of Japan’s surrender.

The abbreviation followed the Allied naming pattern established by V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day. V-J Day marked Japan’s acceptance of the Allied demand for surrender and the end of World War II hostilities in the Pacific.

The term can refer to more than one date. Japan announced its acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration on August 15, 1945, while the United States announced the news on August 14 because of time-zone differences. The formal surrender document was signed on September 2.

This creates a common mix-up: August 15 is widely associated with the public announcement, but September 2 was the ceremony that formally completed the surrender. Britain officially observes August 15 as V-J Day, whereas the United States generally commemorates September 2.