What Japanese government name was adopted in 1982 for the August 15 day marking the end of World War II?

Japan adopted the name “Day for Mourning of War Dead and Praying for Peace” for August 15 in 1982.

August 15 is commonly associated in Japan with the end of World War II because Emperor Hirohito’s surrender broadcast was transmitted that day in 1945. The Japanese government’s official name emphasizes remembrance and peace rather than military victory. A national memorial ceremony is held annually in Tokyo.

The date is not identical to the formal surrender ceremony. The written surrender occurred on September 2, 1945, aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. August 15 marks the public announcement in Japan, while September 2 marks the signing that formally ended hostilities.

English-language sources often call August 15 V-J Day, although the term has also been used for September 2. In the United States, September 2 was officially designated V-J Day by President Harry Truman, while August 15 remains the principal remembrance date in Japan.