Which date did the formal signing of Japan’s World War II surrender take place?

The formal signing of Japan’s World War II surrender took place on 2 September 1945.

On that date, Japanese representatives signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The document formalized Japan’s capitulation and ended hostilities with the Allied powers. The ceremony began shortly after 9 a.m. Japan Standard Time and concluded at about 9:25 a.m.

This date is distinct from 15 August, when Emperor Hirohito’s recorded broadcast announced Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. Time-zone differences also meant that the announcement was heard as 14 August in parts of the Americas.

The term V-J Day has therefore been used for more than one date. In the United States, 2 September became the official commemoration associated with the formal surrender, while 15 August remains the principal public-announcement date in Japan and the United Kingdom. The signing date is the clearest marker of the legal end of the war.