What date was the formal Japanese surrender ceremony held aboard USS Missouri in 1945?

The formal Japanese surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri was held on September 2, 1945.

The ceremony took place in Tokyo Bay, where Japanese representatives signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signed for the Japanese government, while General Yoshijiro Umezu signed for the Imperial General Headquarters.

General Douglas MacArthur signed as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. Representatives of the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, and the Netherlands also participated in the signing.

The ceremony followed Japan’s August 15 announcement that it accepted the Potsdam Declaration. The distinction matters: August 15 marks the public announcement, while September 2 marks the formal document-signing ceremony that concluded World War II for Japan.