Who signed Japan’s surrender for the United States at the 1945 ceremony?

Chester Nimitz signed Japan’s surrender for the United States at the 1945 ceremony.

Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz added his signature to the Japanese Instrument of Surrender after General Douglas MacArthur signed as Supreme Commander for the Allied powers. The ceremony took place aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

Nimitz was Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas during much of the war. His signature represented the United States, while MacArthur’s signature represented the Allied powers collectively. Representatives of several other Allied countries signed after Nimitz.

This division of roles can cause confusion. MacArthur presided over the ceremony and signed first for the Allies, but Nimitz was the American representative who signed specifically for the United States. The two men therefore had different formal capacities at the table.