Japan’s surrender instrument took effect at 9:25 a.m. Japan Standard Time on September 2, 1945.
The ceremony aboard USS Missouri began shortly after 9:00 a.m. in Tokyo Bay. Mamoru Shigemitsu signed for the Japanese government at 9:04 a.m., and General Yoshijiro Umezu signed for Imperial General Headquarters at 9:06 a.m. Allied representatives then signed in sequence.
General Douglas MacArthur accepted the surrender on behalf of the Allied powers and signed as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. The final document became effective at 9:25 a.m., marking the official end of hostilities in World War II.
This time should not be confused with the date of Japan’s public surrender announcement. Emperor Hirohito’s broadcast was heard on August 15, while the legal surrender took effect weeks later at the Tokyo Bay ceremony.