Who presided over Japan’s formal surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri?

Douglas MacArthur presided over Japan’s formal surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri.

MacArthur served as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers and accepted Japan’s surrender on behalf of the Allied nations. He signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender immediately after the two Japanese representatives had signed it.

His position reflected the Allied command structure in the Pacific after Japan’s defeat. Although MacArthur was an American general, he acted at the ceremony in his multinational role rather than simply as a representative of the United States.

Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz signed next as the American representative. Delegates from China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand then signed for their governments. MacArthur’s brief closing remarks emphasized the end of hostilities and the hope for a lasting peace.