What was the formal name for the Allied victory over Japan in World War II?

The formal name for the Allied victory over Japan in World War II was Victory over Japan Day.

The expression usually refers to the announcement that Japan had accepted the Allied surrender terms. In the United States, the announcement was made on August 14, 1945, because of the time difference between Washington and Japan. Many other Allied countries observed the occasion on August 15, when Emperor Hirohito’s recorded broadcast was heard in Japan.

The name can therefore describe more than one date. The formal surrender ceremony took place later, on September 2, 1945, aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. That ceremony produced the signed Japanese Instrument of Surrender and is also associated with the end of the war.

V-J Day is distinct from V-E Day, which marked Nazi Germany’s surrender in Europe in May 1945. The “J” in V-J identifies Japan, while “V-E” identifies Europe.