Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) is the day on which Japan surrendered in World War II, in effect bringing the war to an end. A little after noon Japan Standard Time on 15th August 1945, Emperor Hirohito's announced Japan's acceptance of the terms of the Potsdam Declaration, which set out the terms of their surrender. The formal declaration of peace was made on 2nd September 1945. The war in Europe came to an end on 8th May 1945, but fighting had raged on in the east. It is estimated that between 40 and 50 million people died in World War Two.