General Douglas MacArthur opened the Japanese surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri at 9:02 a.m. Japan Standard Time.
The ceremony took place in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz had boarded shortly after 8 a.m., and the Japanese representatives arrived at about 8:56 a.m. MacArthur then stepped before the microphones at 9:02 a.m.
MacArthur served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and accepted Japan’s surrender on behalf of the Allied powers. After his opening remarks, the Japanese representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender, followed by the Allied delegates.
The time is sometimes blurred with the individual signing times. Mamoru Shigemitsu signed for Japan at about 9:04 a.m., MacArthur signed at about 9:08 a.m., and the entire ceremony ended around 9:25 a.m. All times are Japan Standard Time.