Who signed Japan’s World War II surrender for the Allied powers?

Douglas MacArthur signed Japan’s World War II surrender for the Allied powers.

MacArthur signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. He signed as Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, representing the nations accepting Japan’s capitulation. His signature came before those of representatives from the United States and the other Allied countries.

MacArthur had commanded Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific Area. He became especially associated with the defense and liberation of the Philippines, including his return to the islands in 1944. After Japan surrendered, he led the Allied occupation of Japan and oversaw major political and social reforms.

Chester W. Nimitz also signed the document, but in a different capacity: he represented the United States as its representative. This distinction explains why both names appear prominently in accounts of the ceremony. MacArthur’s role was broader because he signed on behalf of the Allied powers as a group.