Two Japanese officials signed the formal Instrument of Surrender on September 2, 1945.
The signatories were Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijirō Umezu. Shigemitsu signed for Emperor Hirohito and the Japanese government, while Umezu signed for Japan’s Imperial General Headquarters. Together, they represented the civilian and military authorities of the Japanese state.
Eleven Japanese delegates attended or were listed for the ceremony, which can cause confusion about the number of signatures. Only the two senior representatives actually signed the instrument on Japan’s behalf. The remaining delegates came from the army, navy, and foreign ministry and served as accompanying officials.
After the Japanese signatures, Douglas MacArthur signed for the Allied powers, followed by the Allied national representatives. The ceremony occurred aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay and concluded at about 9:25 a.m. The document’s wording formally ended hostilities and established the basis for Japan’s surrender and occupation.