On what date did Japan formally sign its World War II surrender in Tokyo Bay?

Japan formally signed its World War II surrender on September 2, 1945. The ceremony took place aboard the American battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, bringing the war between Japan and the Allied powers to its formal conclusion.

This date followed Emperor Hirohito’s recorded announcement on August 15 that Japan had accepted the Allied terms. The two dates are sometimes confused: August 15 marked the public announcement in Japan, while September 2 marked the signing of the surrender documents.

Representatives of Japan, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand attended the ceremony. General Douglas MacArthur presided as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. The surrender took effect during the ceremony, although fighting and isolated Japanese holdouts continued in some areas afterward.