Who accepted Japan’s surrender on behalf of the Allied Powers in 1945?

General Douglas MacArthur accepted Japan’s surrender on behalf of the Allied Powers on September 2, 1945. He served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and presided over the ceremony aboard USS Missouri.

MacArthur signed the Instrument of Surrender immediately after the two Japanese representatives had signed. He then invited representatives of the principal Allied countries to add their signatures. Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz signed for the United States, while other representatives signed for China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.

MacArthur later led the Allied occupation of Japan. His role at the ceremony was not the same as Nimitz’s: MacArthur accepted the surrender as the overall Allied commander, while Nimitz represented the United States in the sequence of national signatories.