What phrase does the abbreviation “V-J Day” mean in World War II history?

“V-J Day” means “Victory over Japan,” the Allied term for Japan’s defeat in World War II.

The abbreviation parallels “V-E Day,” meaning Victory in Europe, which marked Germany’s surrender in May 1945. Newspapers and governments used V-J to describe the end of fighting against Japan after Emperor Hirohito announced acceptance of Allied terms in August. In the United States, celebrations began on August 14, 1945, because of the time difference between Tokyo and American cities.

The expression can refer either to the announcement of surrender or to the later formal signing on September 2. That difference explains why some calendars list August 14 or 15 while others reserve V-J Day for September 2. Britain commonly commemorates August 15 as V-J Day, whereas the United States often uses August 14.

The phrase is a historical label, not Japan’s own terminology. Japanese sources generally describe the event as the end of the Pacific War or the acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration.