Douglas MacArthur signed Japan’s surrender as the Allied commander at 9:08 a.m. Tokyo time.
The signing took place aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. MacArthur signed as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers after Japan’s two representatives had signed. His signature came before the signatures of the representatives of the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and other Allied nations.
MacArthur had been appointed to oversee Japan’s surrender and the subsequent occupation. His position gave him authority to receive Japan’s capitulation, but the ceremony still included individual Allied representatives to document the participation of their governments.
The proceedings began shortly after 9 a.m. and lasted about 23 minutes. After all signatures were completed, MacArthur made brief concluding remarks. The instrument stated that Japan accepted the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and ordered Japanese forces to cease hostilities.