Japan’s formal World War II surrender was signed in Tokyo Bay. The ceremony took place aboard USS Missouri, which was anchored in the bay near Tokyo on 2 September 1945.
Tokyo Bay was chosen because it provided a secure anchorage for the battleship and the large Allied fleet gathered for the occupation of Japan. The location also placed the ceremony close to the Japanese capital without requiring the delegations to assemble inside a damaged government building.
The setting had an additional symbolic connection. Missouri displayed a flag associated with Commodore Matthew Perry’s expedition to Japan in 1853. Perry’s squadron had anchored near the same general area when it pressed Japan to open relations with the United States.
Tokyo Bay should not be confused with nearby Sagami Bay, where many Allied vessels operated during the approach to Japan. Nor should the ceremony be confused with the earlier surrender announcement broadcast by Emperor Hirohito from Tokyo. The announcement and the signing were separate events.