On what date was Japan’s surrender formally signed aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay?

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

The ceremony took place on the battleship’s deck in Tokyo Bay, shortly after 9 a.m. Japan Standard Time. Japanese representatives signed the Instrument of Surrender, followed by representatives of the Allied powers. The document took effect at 9:25 a.m., marking the formal end of hostilities in World War II.

This date differs from August 15, when Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration by radio. August 15 is commonly associated with V-J Day in Japan and many other countries, while the United States often observed V-J Day on August 14 because of the time difference. The August announcement ended the decision-making crisis, but the September ceremony completed the legal and military surrender.

The signing ceremony lasted about 23 minutes and was witnessed by Allied naval vessels gathered in Tokyo Bay. The event is therefore remembered as the formal conclusion of the Pacific War, even though some isolated Japanese units did not surrender immediately.