Which Allied commander opened the Japanese surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri?

Douglas MacArthur opened the Japanese surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri.

MacArthur served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and presided over the September 2, 1945, ceremony in Tokyo Bay. He invited the Japanese delegation to sign the Instrument of Surrender before Allied representatives added their signatures.

Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz signed immediately after MacArthur as the United States representative. That distinction matters: MacArthur directed the ceremony and signed for the Allied powers, while Nimitz represented the United States specifically. The two senior American commanders therefore had different roles.

MacArthur had commanded Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific Area and had returned to the Philippines in October 1944 after promising to come back. His position after Japan’s defeat placed him in charge of the occupation and reconstruction arrangements. His opening remarks at the ceremony were broadcast internationally.