On what date did Japan formally sign the Japanese Instrument of Surrender in Tokyo Bay?

Japan formally signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on September 2, 1945.

The ceremony took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, marking the legal and ceremonial conclusion of World War II. Japanese representatives signed documents accepting the terms set by the Allied powers. The ceremony began shortly after 9:00 a.m. Japan Standard Time and lasted about 23 minutes.

The date is sometimes confused with August 15, 1945. August 15 was the date on which Emperor Hirohito’s surrender announcement was broadcast to the Japanese public in Japan. It represented Japan’s decision to accept the Allied terms, but the formal surrender document was not signed until September 2.

The distinction also explains why different countries use different V-J Day commemorations. In Japan and the United Kingdom, August 15 is commonly associated with the announcement, while the United States often commemorates September 2, the date of the formal signing.