Japan’s 1945 surrender ceremony formally took effect at 9:25 a.m. Tokyo time.
The signing began shortly after 9 a.m. on September 2, 1945, aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Japanese Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed at 9:04, General Yoshijiro Umezu signed at 9:06, and MacArthur signed for the Allied powers at 9:08.
The remaining Allied representatives then signed in a carefully arranged order. The final signatures were completed before MacArthur closed the proceedings. At 9:25 a.m., the surrender and the associated end of hostilities became official under the ceremony’s timetable.
This time is distinct from August 15, when Emperor Hirohito’s recorded announcement was broadcast to the Japanese public. August 15 marked Japan’s announced acceptance of surrender terms, while September 2 marked the formal signing and effective surrender. The two dates are therefore commemorated differently in various countries.