The medal's statute was later amended on July 18, 1980 by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR № 2523-X.

[2] The Medal "For the Victory over Japan" was awarded to all military personnel and members of the civilian staff of the units and formations of the Red Army, Navy and troops of the NKVD, who took a direct part in hostilities against the Japanese imperialists in the Far East as part of the 1st or 2nd Far Eastern or Transbaikal Fronts, the Pacific Fleet or Amur River Flotilla; to military personnel of the central offices of the People's Commissariat for Defense, the People's Commissariat of the Navy of the USSR and the NKVD, who took part in planning the operations of Soviet troops in the Far East.

[1] Award of the medal was made on behalf of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the basis of documents attesting to actual participation in combat operations against Japan issued by unit commanders or the chief of a military medical establishment.

Recipients serving in the armed forces of the Red Army, Navy and troops of the NKVD received the medal from their unit commander, retirees from military service received the medal from a regional, municipal or district military commissioner in the recipient's community.

On its pebbled obverse, the left facing bust of Joseph Stalin surrounded on the sides and top by the relief inscription along the medal's circumference "FOR THE VICTORY OVER JAPAN" (Russian: «ЗА ПОБЕДУ НАД ЯПОНИЕЙ»).