Douglas MacArthur presided over the September 2, 1945, Japanese surrender ceremony as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.
MacArthur opened the ceremony aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay and signed the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Allied powers. His role reflected his appointment to oversee Japan’s surrender and the subsequent Allied occupation.
The ceremony included representatives from the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Admiral Chester Nimitz signed for the United States Navy, but he did not preside over the event.
After the signing, MacArthur said the proceedings were concluded and hoped that peace would be restored. He then became the central Allied authority in occupied Japan, supervising major political, legal, and economic reforms. His position in Japan lasted until 1951, when President Truman relieved him during the Korean War.