Which date is commonly observed as V-J Day in the United States?

V-J Day was commonly observed in the United States on August 14, 1945.

President Harry S. Truman announced Japan’s acceptance of the Allied surrender terms on August 14 in the United States, after the news reached Washington. Celebrations quickly spread through American cities, with crowds gathering in Times Square and elsewhere. Because of time-zone differences, August 15 was already the relevant calendar date in Japan and several other countries.

The distinction between August 14 and August 15 causes frequent confusion. The formal surrender ceremony did not occur on either date; Japanese representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender aboard USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. V-J Day therefore refers to the announcement and public celebration of victory over Japan, while September 2 marks the formal signing that ended the war legally.

The abbreviation V-J parallels V-E Day, the Allied victory celebration following Germany’s surrender in Europe.