On what date did Japan's formal surrender ceremony take place in 1945?

Japan's formal surrender ceremony took place on September 2, 1945.

The ceremony was held aboard the American battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, bringing the Second World War to its formal conclusion. Japanese representatives signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender in front of Allied commanders and representatives from several Allied countries.

The date is sometimes confused with August 15, 1945. August 15 was the day Emperor Hirohito's surrender announcement was broadcast in Japan, while September 2 marked the signing ceremony that legally ended hostilities with the Allies. Time-zone differences also meant the announcement was heard on August 14 in parts of the Americas.

The ceremony lasted about 23 minutes. General Douglas MacArthur accepted the surrender for the Allied powers, and the event was followed by Allied celebrations known as V-J Day. Japan's surrender ended the Pacific War, although some isolated Japanese personnel continued fighting for years afterward.