What was the official U.S. date for V-J Day after Japan’s surrender ceremony?

The official U.S. date for V-J Day after Japan’s surrender ceremony was September 2, 1945.

President Harry S. Truman designated September 2 as the official V-J Day because Japan’s Instrument of Surrender was signed that day aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The signing formally ended hostilities between Japan and the Allied powers.

August 15 was also widely celebrated because Emperor Hirohito’s recorded surrender announcement was broadcast in Japan on that date. In the United States and some Pacific regions, the announcement was heard on August 14 because of time-zone differences. This created several dates associated with the expression “V-J Day.”

The United Kingdom officially observes August 15 as its V-J Day, while the United States commonly uses September 2. Japan marks August 15 with a national memorial observance, although it is not a national holiday. The different conventions reflect the difference between the public announcement, its local calendar date, and the formal signing.