On what date in 1945 did Japan formally sign its surrender in Tokyo Bay?

Japan formally signed its surrender in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

The ceremony took place aboard the battleship USS Missouri, where Japanese representatives signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. The agreement formalized Japan’s capitulation and marked the end of organized hostilities in World War II.

The date is sometimes confused with August 15, when Emperor Hirohito’s recorded announcement of Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration was broadcast to the Japanese public. Because of time-zone differences, the announcement was heard as August 14 in parts of the Americas. August 15 is commonly commemorated as V-J Day in Japan and the United Kingdom, while September 2 is the official U.S. date associated with the formal surrender.

The signing ceremony began shortly after 9 a.m. Japan Standard Time and concluded at 9:25 a.m. Representatives from Japan and nine Allied governments signed the document. The ceremony therefore separated the public announcement of surrender from its formal legal and military completion.