The September 2, 1945, Japanese surrender ceremony took place in Tokyo Bay.
The ceremony was held aboard USS Missouri, which was anchored in the bay near Tokyo. The location placed the formal end of hostilities close to the Japanese capital while keeping the event aboard an Allied warship.
Allied naval forces had entered the bay during the occupation’s opening stages in late August 1945. Missouri arrived in the area on August 29, after weather delayed the planned ceremony from August 31.
Tokyo Bay is sometimes confused with Sagami Bay, which lies south of Tokyo. The surrender signing specifically occurred in Tokyo Bay, and photographs show Allied ships assembled around Missouri with Mount Fuji visible in the distance.