What is the full name of V-J Day, the 1945 observance marking Japan’s defeat?

V-J Day is the name for Victory over Japan Day. It commemorates Imperial Japan’s surrender in World War II and the resulting end of the Pacific War.

The abbreviation follows the Allied naming pattern used for V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day. Depending on location and convention, V-J Day can refer to August 15, 1945, when Emperor Hirohito’s surrender announcement was broadcast in Japan, or September 2, 1945, when Japan signed the formal surrender document.

The date difference reflects both historical stages and time zones. In the United States, the announcement was heard on August 14 because it was still the previous day there. The United Kingdom commonly observes August 15, while the official U.S. commemoration is September 2. Japan generally marks August 15 with a national memorial ceremony, although the country’s official name for the observance is different.