Nine Allied nations signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on USS Missouri.
The participating Allied nations were the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Douglas MacArthur first signed for the Allied powers collectively, after which representatives of these nations signed individually.
The number nine can be confused with the total number of national parties present, because Japan also signed the document. Japan was the surrendering state, not one of the Allied nations counted in the figure. There were also two Japanese signatories and nine additional Japanese delegates at the ceremony.
The signing order reflected the Allied coalition’s political and military structure. Chester Nimitz signed for the United States, while General Hsu Yong-chang represented China. Other signatories included Kuzma Derevyanko for the Soviet Union and Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque for France.