On what date in 1945 was Japan's formal surrender signed, ending World War II?

Japan's formal surrender was signed on September 2, 1945, ending World War II. The ceremony took place aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, several weeks after Japan announced its decision to surrender.

Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender in a radio address on August 15, but the legal and ceremonial surrender came later. This distinction explains why different countries and sources mark V-J Day on different dates.

General Douglas MacArthur presided over the ceremony for the Allied powers. Japanese representatives signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, accepting the terms set by the Allies.

The signing ended hostilities involving Japan, although occupation and demobilization continued afterward. The ceremony is therefore often treated as the final act of World War II, while August 15 remains an important date commemorating Japan's announcement.