What phrase does V-J Day abbreviate?

V-J Day abbreviates “Victory over Japan.”

The term describes the Allied victory over Imperial Japan at the end of World War II. It is associated especially with August 15, 1945, when Japan’s surrender was announced to the public, and with September 2, when the surrender document was formally signed.

The date can vary by country and context. In Japan and the United Kingdom, August 15 is commonly linked with the announcement, while the United States often commemorates September 2 as the official end of the war.

The abbreviation follows the pattern of V-E Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which marked Germany’s surrender in May 1945. Some countries use related names such as Victory in the Pacific Day, but V-J Day remains the best-known English term.