Japan’s surrender delegation met Douglas MacArthur in Manila before the formal ceremony.
Japanese officials traveled to Manila on August 19, 1945, to meet MacArthur and receive instructions about the surrender and the coming Allied occupation. The meeting took place after Emperor Hirohito had announced Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration but before the legal signing aboard USS Missouri.
The delegation’s visit helped establish practical arrangements for ending Japanese military authority. MacArthur had already issued General Order No. 1, which directed Japanese forces to surrender to specified Allied commanders. The Manila discussions therefore formed part of the transition from announcement to implementation.
Manila was an important location because MacArthur had made it his headquarters during the campaign to retake the Philippines. He returned to the city after the Japanese occupation ended, and the conference connected the Pacific campaign’s military command with the first operational steps of Japan’s occupation. Manila should not be confused with Tokyo Bay, where the final signing ceremony occurred on September 2.