On what date in 1945 was Japan’s formal surrender signed aboard an Allied warship?

Japan’s formal surrender was signed on September 2, 1945, aboard USS Missouri.

The signing took place in Tokyo Bay and formalized the end of hostilities between Japan and the Allied powers. Japanese representatives signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, accepting the terms imposed by the Allies.

This date is distinct from August 15, when Hirohito’s radio broadcast announced Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. August 15 is often called V-J Day in countries that mark the public announcement, while September 2 marks the legal and ceremonial completion of the surrender.

The ceremony began shortly after 9 a.m. Japan Standard Time. General Douglas MacArthur accepted the surrender for the Allied powers, and representatives from several Allied governments signed afterward. The ceremony lasted only 23 minutes but symbolized the end of the Pacific War and World War II.