Nine Allied nations signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender as separate national representatives.
The signatories represented the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. General Douglas MacArthur signed first as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, followed by the national representatives.
The number nine can be confused with other totals connected with the ceremony. There were two Japanese signatories, nine additional Japanese delegates, and many Allied ships in Tokyo Bay. The nine-nation figure refers specifically to the separate national representatives who signed after MacArthur.
The signing began shortly after 9 a.m. Tokyo time on September 2, 1945, aboard USS Missouri. The ceremony concluded at about 9:25 a.m., after which the surrender documents formally took effect and the war with Japan was considered ended.