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The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed by the last Japanese
representative at 9:04 AM on September 2, 1945, known as VJ day to Allied
forces. Afterward, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Commander in the Southwest
Pacific and Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, also signed. He
accepted the Japanese surrender "for the United States, Republic of China,
United Kingdom, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and in the
interests of the other United Nations at war with Japan." It marked the
formal end of World War II.
The document was signed on the deck of the US battleship USS Missouri in
Tokyo Bay. On September 6, Colonel Bernard Theilen brought the document and
an imperial rescript to Washington, DC and on the following day presented
them to President Harry Truman in a formal White House ceremony. The
documents were then exhibited at the National Archives.
The opening paragraph illustrates the importance attached to the Japanese
Emperor, while the second gets to the heart of the matter by declaring the
unconditional surrender of Japan.
The full text of the Instrument of Surrender read as follows:
INSTRUMENT OF SURRENDER
We, acting by command of and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan, the
Japanese Government and the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, hereby
accept the provisions set forth in the declaration issued by the heads of
the Governments of the United States, China, and Great Britain on 26 July
1945 at Potsdam, and subsequently adhered to by the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics, which four powers are hereafter referred to as the
Allied Powers.
We hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers of
the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters and of all Japanese armed forces
and all armed forces under the Japanese control wherever situated.
We hereby command all Japanese forces wherever situated and the Japanese
people to cease hostilites forthwith, to preserve and save from damage all
ships, aircraft, and military and civil property and to comply with all
requirements which my be imposed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied
Powers or by agencies of the Japanese Government at his direction.
We hereby command the Japanese Imperial Headquarters to issue at once
orders to the Commanders of all Japanese forces and all forces under
Japanese control wherever situated to surrender unconditionally themselves
and all forces under their control.
We hereby command all civil, military and naval officials to obey and
enforce all proclamations, and orders and directives deemed by the Supreme
Commander for the Allied Powers to be proper to effectuate this surrender
and issued by him or under his authority and we direct all such officials to
remain at their posts and to continue to perform their non-combatant duties
unless specifically relieved by him or under his authority.
We hereby undertake for the Emperor, the Japanese Government and their
successors to carry out the provisions of the Potsdam Declaration in good
faith, and to issue whatever orders and take whatever actions may be
required by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Poers or by any other
designated representative of the Allied Powers for the purpose of giving
effect to that Declaration.
We hereby command the Japanese Imperial Government and the Japanese
Imperial General Headquarters at once to liberate all allied prisoners of
war and civilian internees now under Japanese control and to provide for
their protection, care, maintenance and immediate transportation to places
as directed.
The authority of the Emperor and the Japanese Government to rule the
state shall be subject to the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers who
will take such steps as he deems proper to effectuate these terms of
surrender.
Signed at TOKYO BAY, JAPAN at 0904 I on the SECOND day of SEPTEMBER, 1945
MAMORU SHIGMITSU By Command and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the
Japanese Government
YOSHIJIRO UMEZU By Command and in behalf of the Japanese Imperial General
Headquarters
Accepted at TOKYO BAY, JAPAN at 0903 I on the SECOND day of SEPTEMBER,
1945, for the United States, Republic of China, United Kingdom and the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics, and in the interests of the other United
Nations at war with Japan.
DOUGLAS MAC ARTHUR
- Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers
C.W. NIMITZ
- United States Representative
HSU YUNG-CH'ANG
- Republic of China Representative
BRUCE FRASER
- United Kingdom Representative
KUZMA DEREVYANKO
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Representative
THOMAS BLAMEY
- Commonwealth of Australia Representative
L. MOORE COSGRAVE
- Dominion of Canada Representative
JACQUES LE CLERC
- Provisional Government of the French Republic Representative
C.E.L. HELFRICH
- Kingdom of the Netherlands Representative
LEONARD M. ISITT
- Dominion of New Zealand Representative
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