On what date was Japan’s formal surrender signed aboard USS Missouri?

Japan’s formal surrender was signed aboard USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. The ceremony took place in Tokyo Bay and legally formalized the end of hostilities in World War II.

Japanese representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender shortly after 9 a.m. Japan Standard Time. General Douglas MacArthur accepted the surrender on behalf of the Allied Powers, followed by representatives from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and other Allied nations.

The date is sometimes called V-J Day, although many countries use August 15 for the emperor’s surrender announcement. This difference explains why historical accounts may give two V-J dates. August 15 marked Japan’s public acceptance of the Allied terms; September 2 marked the signed capitulation and the official ceremony.