What title did Douglas MacArthur use when signing Japan’s surrender instrument in 1945?

Douglas MacArthur signed Japan’s surrender instrument as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.

MacArthur accepted the surrender on behalf of the Allied powers immediately after the two Japanese representatives signed. His title identified his authority over the Allied occupation and surrender arrangements, rather than describing a national political office or a single naval command.

MacArthur had also served as commander of Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific Area. Those responsibilities were separate from the broader Supreme Commander role used for the surrender ceremony. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz signed afterward as the United States representative, a distinction that is sometimes blurred in summaries of the event.

The signing ceremony was not merely a symbolic gathering. The instrument formally accepted the terms imposed by the Allies and required Japan’s armed forces to cease hostilities and surrender. MacArthur’s opening and closing remarks framed the event as the end of the war and expressed hope for a more peaceful future.