At what time did the Japanese surrender ceremony officially end World War II?

The Japanese surrender ceremony officially ended World War II at 9:25 a.m. Japan Standard Time.

The ceremony began shortly after 9 a.m. aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Douglas MacArthur opened the proceedings, and the Japanese and Allied representatives then signed the Instrument of Surrender in a carefully arranged sequence.

MacArthur signed at 9:08 a.m., followed by Chester Nimitz and representatives of the other Allied powers. The document took effect at 9:25 a.m., marking the official end of hostilities with Japan.

This exact time is different from the time of Hirohito’s August 15 broadcast. The broadcast announced acceptance of the Allied terms, but the formal document and ceremony completed the legal surrender process.