What was the written agreement that formally recorded Japan’s surrender in World War II called?

The written agreement that formally recorded Japan’s surrender in World War II was called the Japanese Instrument of Surrender.

The document was signed on September 2, 1945, aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. It formalized Japan’s capitulation to the Allied powers and brought the war between Japan and the Allies to its legal conclusion.

Japan’s representatives signed first, followed by MacArthur and representatives of the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Two versions were signed: a leather-bound copy for the Allies and a canvas-backed copy for Japan.

The Instrument of Surrender is different from the Potsdam Declaration. The declaration, issued in July 1945 by the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, stated the terms Japan was expected to accept. The surrender instrument was the later document that recorded Japan’s acceptance and capitulation.