Douglas MacArthur opened Japan’s surrender ceremony at 9:02 a.m. on September 2, 1945.
The ceremony took place aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. MacArthur arrived on the battleship at 8:43 a.m., while the Japanese representatives arrived at 8:56 a.m. The formal proceedings began six minutes later.
MacArthur’s opening statement expressed hope that the occasion would lead to a better world founded on faith, understanding, dignity, freedom, tolerance, and justice. He then directed the Japanese delegation to sign the surrender instrument.
The ceremony ended at approximately 9:25 a.m. Its precise timetable is documented because the event was carefully organized for an international audience and recorded by journalists, photographers, and military film crews.