On what date in 1945 was Japan’s formal surrender document signed in Tokyo Bay?

Japan’s formal surrender document was signed on September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay.

The ceremony took place aboard the American battleship USS Missouri, where Japanese representatives signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. The document formally ended hostilities between Japan and the Allied powers and is generally treated as the official end of World War II.

This date is sometimes confused with August 15, when Emperor Hirohito’s radio broadcast announced Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. August 15 is commonly called V-J Day in Japan and several Allied countries, while September 2 marks the actual signing ceremony. The ceremony began shortly after 9 a.m. Japan Standard Time and lasted about 23 minutes.

Representatives of the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand signed for the Allies. The agreement required Japan to accept the terms of the Potsdam Declaration and surrender its armed forces.