What does “V-J” stand for in Victory over Japan Day, the 1945 World War II observance?

“V-J” in Victory over Japan Day stands for “Victory over Japan.” The abbreviation mirrors “V-E,” used for Victory in Europe Day after Nazi Germany’s surrender in May 1945.

V-J Day refers to Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II. The term is used especially for the public announcement of Japan’s acceptance of Allied terms on August 15, 1945, in Japan, or August 14 in much of the Americas because of time-zone differences.

The phrase can also refer to September 2, 1945, when Japan formally signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. That distinction causes frequent confusion: the announcement, the effective end of hostilities, and the formal signing are connected but occurred on different dates.

“Victory in the Pacific” is another related expression, but it is not what the initials V-J literally mean.