What was the official Japanese name adopted in 1982 for August 15, the day associated with Japan’s 1945 surrender?

Japan adopted the official name “Day for Mourning of the War Dead and Praying for Peace” for August 15 in 1982.

August 15 is widely known in Japan as the day associated with the end of World War II and is often called the end-of-war anniversary in English-language descriptions. The Japanese government’s official designation emphasizes mourning and peace rather than a military victory. It was adopted by government ordinance in 1982.

The annual National Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead takes place in Tokyo on August 15. The event honors those who died in the war and includes prayers for lasting peace. The date corresponds to Hirohito’s radio announcement in 1945, although the legal surrender document was signed later on September 2.

This naming difference illustrates how V-J Day is remembered differently across countries. Allied wartime language generally emphasized victory over Japan, while Japan’s official commemoration centers on grief, remembrance, and the hope that war will not recur. The designation is therefore distinct from the name of the surrender document or the emperor’s broadcast.