V-J Day, September 2, 1945, the day that Japan signed the Allies' surrender terms, marking the end of World War II. V-J stands for “Victory in Japan.” The surrender document was signed in a 20-minute ceremony aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Among those who signed were General Douglas MacArthur, for the Allied command, and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, for the United States.
The war actually ended two weeks earlier, on August 14, when Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender. Victory was celebrated that night throughout the United States.
