Who signed Japan's surrender as the United States representative aboard USS Missouri?

Chester W. Nimitz signed Japan’s surrender as the United States representative aboard USS Missouri.

The ceremony took place in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. General Douglas MacArthur signed first for the Allied powers as Supreme Commander, followed by Nimitz as the representative of the United States government and armed forces.

Nimitz was a Fleet Admiral of the United States Navy and had served as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas during the war. His command directed major naval campaigns across the Pacific, including the battles of Midway, the Philippine Sea, and Leyte Gulf.

Nimitz’s role is sometimes confused with MacArthur’s because both were senior American commanders present at the ceremony. MacArthur presided and signed for the Allied powers, while Nimitz signed in the specifically designated American capacity. Representatives of eight other Allied nations also signed the document.