Japan’s surrender officially took effect at 9:25 a.m. Japan Standard Time during the USS Missouri ceremony.
The formal signing began shortly after 9:00 a.m. on 2 September 1945 in Tokyo Bay. Mamoru Shigemitsu signed for the Japanese government at about 9:04 a.m., followed by General Yoshijirō Umezu for Imperial General Headquarters.
General Douglas MacArthur then signed for the Allied Powers, and representatives of nine Allied governments added their signatures. After brief concluding remarks, the proceedings ended at approximately 9:25 a.m., when the surrender became officially effective.
This precise time is different from the time of Hirohito’s surrender announcement on 15 August. It is also different from the times individual representatives signed the document, which occurred sequentially during the ceremony.