Victory over Japan Day — day on which Japan surrendered, effectively ending World War II
Japan's surrender on 15 August 1945 ended World War II, concluding the deadliest conflict in human history.
Key Facts
- Announcement date (Japan/UK)
- 15 August 1945
- Announcement date (Americas)
- 14 August 1945
- Formal surrender signed
- 2 September 1945
- Surrender vessel
- USS Missouri, Tokyo Bay
- Official US commemoration
- 2 September
- Japan's official name for Aug 15
- Memorial day for the end of the war (Shūsen-kinenbi)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan, the Japanese government concluded that continued resistance was untenable. Emperor Hirohito's intervention broke a deadlock among Japanese leadership, leading to the decision to accept the Allied terms of surrender.
On 15 August 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration via radio broadcast, marking the effective end of World War II. The formal surrender was signed aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945, with Allied and Japanese representatives present.
Japan's surrender brought World War II to a complete close, ending six years of global conflict. The United States occupied Japan, which subsequently underwent demilitarization and democratic reform. The day is commemorated differently across nations: the United Kingdom marks 15 August, the United States officially observes 2 September, and Japan uses the day for mourning war dead and praying for peace.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent