VJ Day and the story of women's football: history behind the headlines

Hello and welcome to our monthly series History Behind the Headlines. I'm Matt Elton. In each episode, an expert panel will be exploring the historical news stories that have caught their eye and the history that will help you make sense of what's going on in the world. Each month I'll be joined by our two regular panellists. I'm Hannah Skoda, I'm fellow and tutor in medieval history at St.

John's College in Oxford. I'm Rana Mitter. I'm SD Lee Chair in US Asia relations at the Harvard Kennedy School, and I'm a specialist on modern Chinese history. Hannah and Rana, thank you both so much as always for being here. This month has marked the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, 15th of August 1945, and the end of fighting on the Asian front in the Second World War.

Though the conflict in Europe had been over by May, brutal battles continue to be fought in Southeast Asia until Japan's surrender at the end of the summer. Rana, can we start with your thoughts about how we should mark this moment? Absolutely, Matt. One of the things I think that Western listeners may notice, and again I'm giving a very broad brush picture there, but for this purpose I hope you'll excuse me, is that memory of the VJ victory over Japan by the Allies still sits in a much more secondary place in public memory than victory in Europe.

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