Which Allied commander accepted Japan's surrender at the USS Missouri ceremony in 1945?

Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan's surrender at the USS Missouri ceremony in 1945.

MacArthur signed the Instrument of Surrender as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. His position gave him authority to receive the capitulation on behalf of the Allied nations, although representatives from those nations also signed the document. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz signed immediately after MacArthur as the United States representative.

MacArthur had commanded Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific Area and returned to the Philippines in October 1944 after being forced to leave in 1942. After Japan surrendered, he became the central Allied authority during the occupation of Japan. He supervised major political, legal, and economic reforms, including demilitarization and the drafting of a new constitution.

MacArthur's opening remarks at the ceremony emphasized peace and the hope that the event would lead to a better world. His role at the signing made him one of the most recognizable figures associated with V-J Day.