Nine Allied governments sent representatives to sign Japan’s surrender instrument after MacArthur.
The representatives came from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Their signatures demonstrated that the surrender involved a broad coalition rather than only the United States and Japan.
Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz signed for the United States, followed by General Hsu Yung-chang for China and Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser for the United Kingdom. Representatives of the other Allied governments then signed in sequence.
The number nine refers to the Allied governments represented after MacArthur’s signature. It should not be confused with the total number of people present, the number of Japanese delegates, or the number of countries that fought Japan in the wider war.