When Will World War II End in Japan?

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When Will World War II End in Japan?

Silence on the official history of 1939 to 1945 has led to a flowering of creative interpretations. August 15, 2025, 3:00 PM Comment icon View Comments ( )

A person in a soldier's uniform carries the flag of imperial Japan outside of a shrine as people walk by in the background.

When did World War II end? Or, when will World War II end? This may seem a rhetorical question to most, with Aug. 15 marking the 80th anniversary of V-J Day (Victory Over Japan Day). On that date, Japan supposedly surrendered unconditionally. Few realize, however, that the state of war between the Allies and Japan did not legally end until years later with the Treaty of San Francisco, which was signed in September 1951 and took effect in 1952. That treat