VJ Day: The Day the World Exhaled

On August 15, 1945, joy erupted across cities, towns, and villages around the globe. Crowds poured into the streets, strangers embraced, and church bells rang out in celebration. This was VJ Day—Victory over Japan Day—the moment the Second World War finally came to an end. For millions, it marked the close of years of fear, sacrifice, and uncertainty.

By mid-1945, World War II had already seen Nazi Germany’s defeat in May, celebrated as VE Day (Victory in Europe Day). But in the Pacific, the fighting raged on. The U.S. and its allies were engaged in a grueling island-hopping campaign, with battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa costing tens of thousands of lives. Then, in early August, the world changed forever. The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9). Combined with the Soviet Union’s declaration of war against Japan on August 8, the blows proved decisive. Japan announced its surrender on August 15, 1945, a moment broadcast by Emperor Hirohito himself in a rare radio address.

From London to Sydney, New York to Manila, people took to the streets in spontaneous parades. In Times Square, sailor George Mendonsa was famously photographed kissing a nurse in celebration—a moment that became one of the most iconic images of the 20th century. In small towns, neighbors hugged, flags waved, and servicemen began to dream of home. While the celebrations were euphoric, VJ Day was also shadowed by the war’s devastation. Millions had lost their lives, cities lay in ruins, and survivors faced the monumental task of rebuilding. The use of atomic weapons sparked ethical debates that continue to this day. And for many soldiers and prisoners of war, the end of fighting was just the start of long journeys back to their families.

VJ Day stands as a reminder of both the resilience of the human spirit and the profound costs of global conflict. It’s a day to honor the sacrifices of those who fought and the civilians who endured unimaginable hardship. It also challenges us to work toward peace—so that future generations might celebrate victory without war.

On VJ Day, the world didn’t just win a war; it regained the possibility of peace. In the cheers and tears of that August day, there was relief, gratitude, and hope—a reminder that even in humanity’s darkest hours, the dawn can still break.