What name did the Allies give the day marking Japan’s 1945 defeat in World War II?

The Allies called the day marking Japan’s 1945 defeat Victory over Japan Day.

The abbreviation V-J Day parallels V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which marked Nazi Germany’s surrender earlier in 1945. Japan’s surrender announcement was made on August 15 in Japan, while time-zone differences meant the announcement was heard on August 14 in the United States and much of the Americas.

The term can also cause confusion because the formal surrender ceremony took place on September 2, 1945, aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. In the United States, September 2 was officially designated V-J Day by President Harry S. Truman, although August 14 or 15 is more commonly associated with the public announcement.

Australia commonly used Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day, rather than V-J Day. These overlapping dates reflect the difference between announcing surrender and formally signing the surrender document.