What was Japan’s official name for its August 15 end-of-war observance after 1982?

Japan’s official name for its August 15 end-of-war observance after 1982 was Day for Mourning of War Dead and Praying for Peace.

The Japanese government adopted this formal name by ordinance in 1982. The observance is commonly associated with August 15, the date when Emperor Hirohito’s recorded announcement of Japan’s acceptance of the Allied terms was broadcast to the Japanese public in 1945.

Japan also commonly refers to August 15 as the Memorial Day for the End of the War. That familiar description differs from the longer official designation, which emphasizes mourning and prayer rather than military victory. The national memorial ceremony in Tokyo remembers those who died in the war and calls for peace.

This observance should not be confused with the September 2 signing ceremony aboard USS Missouri. August 15 marks the broadcast announcement in Japan, while September 2 marks the formal surrender document.