VJ Day, or Victory over Japan Day, marks the moment Japanese forces surrendered in 1945 during the Second World War. Celebrated on 15th August, it marks the end of the global conflict which took an estimated 60 million to 80 million lives. While VE Day in May had ended the war in Europe, fierce fighting continued across Asia and the Pacific for another three months, halted only when two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, and the Soviet Union declared war.
For the Armed Forces community, VJ Day carries particular weight for those who served in the Far East and their families. By remembering this day, we honour the sacrifice of the fallen and the peace their efforts helped to secure.
VJ Day at a glance
| What it marks | The surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War |
| UK date | 15th August |
| Also known as | Victory over Japan Day (VP Day, or Victory in the Pacific, in Australia) |
| Why 15th August | The date Japan’s surrender was announced |
| When it was formally signed | 2nd September |
| Latest milestone | 2025 marked the 80th anniversary |
When is VJ Day?
VJ Day falls on 15th August in the UK, and 2025 marked its 80th anniversary. The date reflects the day Japan’s surrender was announced in 1945, though it was not formally signed until 2nd September.
Not every country marks the occasion on the same day. Several observe it in early September to tie it to the formal signing rather than the announcement. Further down the page, you’ll find a full country-by-country breakdown.
What led to VJ Day?
The Second World War began in 1939 with Hitler and the German Forces invading Poland. As Germany encountered opposition from many European nations, it was quick to negotiate treaties with other countries to help strengthen its position. Leaders from a small number of countries, including Japan, then became known as the Axis Powers.
In 1941, an emboldened Japan launched attacks in the Asia Pacific region, many of which were aimed at British and US targets. This was when the American Forces officially entered the war. Japan was swallowing up territory, conquering areas quickly, but found its march halted during the Battle of Midway.
By 1944, German Forces were on the back foot in Europe, and the Japanese were no longer cutting through Asian territory as they were before. In early 1945, US Forces captured Iwo Jima in March and Okinawa in June, bringing fighting closer to the Japanese mainland. Germany surrendered in May 1945, enabling the Allies to concentrate their efforts on the Pacific. By August, Japan now not only faced the US military but also its European Allies and the Soviet Union.
On 6th August and 9th August, the US Army Air Forces dropped two atomic bombs, one on Hiroshima and one on Nagasaki, respectively. At the same time, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan on 8th August and launched a massive invasion of Japanese-held Manchuria, removing any hope that the Soviets might opt for a softer peace. Japan’s surrender was announced on 15th August and formally signed on 2nd September.
How did people celebrate VJ Day at the end of the war?
With the German surrender only a few months before, the people of Britain and other nations across the globe were able to resume the street parties and events from VE Day. Whilst parties may not have been on the same scale as VE Day celebrations, the sense of relief was perhaps just as large as people looked towards what they hoped would be a lasting peace.
However, not all celebrations were conducted appropriately. In the USA, a Life Magazine report said civilians began celebrating “as if joy had been rationed and saved up” in the years since the Pearl Harbor attack of 1941. Yet in San Francisco, vandalism, robbery, assault and rape took place, and several people were killed. More than 1,000 people were injured, 13 died, and at least six were raped. Unfortunately, no criminal charges followed, and no civilian or military official faced any action. The media concluded that the city simply tried to pretend the riots never happened.
Much more civilised celebrations took place in New York, where the largest crowd ever to gather in Times Square rejoiced that the war was over.
The Japanese reaction to VJ Day
The surrender of Japan was too much for some soldiers, and on 15th and 16th August, some committed suicide whilst others oversaw the execution of US, British and Australian Prisoners of War. Further executions were also scheduled at Batu Lintang camp in Borneo, but thankfully the camp was liberated four days before the orders were due to be carried out. Even after the surrender was signed, Japanese forces continued to engage in combat with the Soviet military for a further two weeks.
Do other countries celebrate VJ Day?
VJ Day is celebrated in other countries, but these days celebrations are considerably more subdued than in 1945. The dates vary between nations as our table below shows.
| Country | Date | Name/observance | Public holiday? |
| UK | 15th August | VJ Day | No |
| USA | 2nd September | V-J Day | No |
| China | 3rd September | Victory over Japan Day | Yes |
| Australia | 15th August | VP Day | No |
| South Korea | 15th August | “The day the light returned” | Yes |
| Philippines | 3rd September | Surrender of General Yamashita Day | No |
| Netherlands | Around 15th August | National remembrance service | No |
| Mongolia | Early September | Linked to Battles of Khalkhin Gol | No |
| Russia | 3rd September | Day of Military Glory | No |
USA
The USA recognises 2nd September as the official anniversary, but at the time of writing, there are no holidays to commemorate it.
Hong Kong/China
The Japanese Army handed over Hong Kong to the Royal Navy on 30th August 1945. This led to “Liberation Day” celebrations being held on the same day each year. This national holiday was then moved to the Saturday before the last Monday of August until 1997. Once sovereignty was transferred that year, the day became known as “Sino-Japanese War Victory Day” and, in 1999, was removed from the list of public holidays. In 2014, a commemoration ceremony was held on 3rd September in line with “Victory Day of the Chinese people’s war against Japanese aggression” in mainland China, and has retained its place as the day the Chinese and the people of Hong Kong acknowledge the end of the war.
South Korea
In South Korea, the end of the war is marked with a public holiday known as “The day the light returned”. It holds great significance for the Korean people as the day Korea was liberated from its status as a Japanese colony.
Mongolia
Victory over Japan Day in Mongolia shares its commemorations with the victory of the Battles of Khalkhin Gol. Every five years, up until 1989, the end of these conflicts was celebrated on a grand scale. It eventually became no more than a reference in debates and lectures until the Mongolian Armed Forces joined with Russian Forces to mark specific anniversaries.
Australia
In 1945, Australians celebrated on a large scale, so much so that all pubs were closed to stop things getting too rowdy! Today things are much more subdued. At times you may see people refer to it as VP Day (Victory in the Pacific), but this usage has mostly faded.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, there is one national service and several more localised services held on or around 15th August. The national service is held at the Indisch monument in The Hague, where victims of the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies are remembered.
Philippines
In the Philippines, VJ Day is celebrated on 3rd September each year and is called the “Surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita Day”. 2nd September sees Victory Day observed in the province of Ifugao to commemorate the bravery of Philippine veterans and the surrender of Yamashita to the Filipino-American joint forces.
Russia
In the former Soviet Union, VJ Day was introduced as a holiday on 3rd September 1945. The only celebration at the time was a military parade in Harbin, and for two years, the day was a national holiday. After that, it became a normal working day with nothing of note held to celebrate it. In Russia today, the day is listed as one of the country’s official days of military commemoration, and in 2023, 3rd September was formally designated a “Day of Military Glory”, marking victory over Japan. It is still not a public holiday.
A parade is still held in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk or Khabarovsk but is one of the only ones to remain. Other areas such as Yakutia and Buryatia also hold parades on 2nd September honouring the Battles of Khalkhin Gol and the end of the Second World War.
VJ Day and the Forgotten Army
For British and Commonwealth armed forces, VJ Day carries a significance that VE Day does not. While the war in Europe dominated the headlines, hundreds of thousands of servicemen were still fighting a brutal campaign in the Far East.
Among them was the British Fourteenth Army, which fought the Japanese across Burma. Led by Lieutenant-General William Slim, it was a multinational force, with approximately a million men from Britain, India, Africa and Nepal. By 1945, it was one of the largest armies in the world. Important victories at Imphal and Kohima proved to be turning points in the campaign, but as the press and public were still fixed on what was happening in Europe, the bravery, commitment and achievement of these men went largely unnoticed. This saw them named “the Forgotten Army.”
VJ Day also marked the end of captivity for the Far East Prisoners of War, whose treatment remains one of the darkest chapters of the conflict. Many lost their lives during forced labour, and whilst POWs from the conflict in Europe were returning home, those held in Asia had no contact with relatives until the end of 1945.
This is why, for many, VJ Day is not just an accompaniment to VE Day, but a day of remembrance in its own right.
How is VJ Day being marked in 2026?
This year, VJ Day falls on Saturday 15th August. The last major national commemoration took place in 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary. This included a Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum attended by the King and Queen, a national two-minute silence, and dedicated services for the Far East POWs and their families.
With the 80th anniversary having passed, commemoration will include local ceremonies, church services and community gatherings, often organised by the Royal British Legion, SSAFA and the Burma Star Memorial Fund.
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