Changes

The instrument was signed by representatives from the [[Japan|Empire of Japan]], the United States of America, the [[Republic of China]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]], the [[Commonwealth of Australia]], the [[Canada|Dominion of Canada]], the Provisional Government of the [[France|French Republic]], the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], and the [[Dominion of New Zealand]].  

The instrument was signed by representatives from the [[Japan|Empire of Japan]], the United States of America, the [[Republic of China]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]], the [[Commonwealth of Australia]], the [[Canada|Dominion of Canada]], the Provisional Government of the [[France|French Republic]], the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], and the [[Dominion of New Zealand]].  

The signing, which lasted twenty three minutes, was broadcasted around the world. The first to sign was the [[Japan]]ese foreign minister [[Mamoru Shigemitsu]] "By Command and on behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government" and then [[General Yoshijiro Umezo]] "By Command and on behalf of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters" at 9:04 a.m. Then, U.S. General [[Douglas MacArthur]] signed. After him  [[Chester Nimitz|Admiral Chester Nimitz]] signed for the United States, [[Hsu Yung-Ch'ang]] for the [[Republic of China]], [[Bruce Fraser]] for the United Kingdom, [[Kuzma Derevyanko]] for the Soviet Union, General [[Sir Thomas Blamey]] for Australia, Colonel [[Lawrence Moore Cosgrave]] for Canada, [[General Philippe Leclerc de Hautecloque]] for France, Admiral [[C.E.L. Helfrich]] for the Netherlands, and [[Leonard M. Isitt]] for New Zealand.

The signing, which lasted twenty three minutes, was broadcasted around the world. The first to sign was the [[Japan]]ese foreign minister [[Mamoru Shigemitsu]] "By Command and on behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government" and then [[General Yoshijiro Umezo]] "By Command and on behalf of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters" at 9:04 a.m. Then, U.S. General [[Douglas MacArthur]] signed. After him  [[Chester Nimitz|Admiral Chester Nimitz]] signed for the United States, [[Hsu Yung-Ch'ang]] for the [[Republic of China]], [[Bruce Fraser]] for the United Kingdom, [[Kuzma Derevyanko]] for the Soviet Union, General [[Sir Thomas Blamey]] for Australia, Colonel [[Lawrence Moore Cosgrave]] for Canada, [[General Philippe Leclerc de Hautecloque]] for France, Admiral [[C.E.L. Helfrich]] for the Netherlands, and [[Leonard M. Isitt]] for New Zealand.

On September 6, Colonel [[Bernard Theilen]] brought the instrument to [[Washington, D.C.]] and the following day presented it to President [[Harry S Truman]] in a formal [[White House]] ceremony. It was then exhibited in the [[United States National Archives|National Archives]].

On September 6, Colonel [[Bernard Theilen]] brought the instrument to [[Washington, D.C.]] and the following day presented it to President [[Harry S Truman]] in a formal [[White House]] ceremony. It was then exhibited in the [[United States National Archives|National Archives]].

==The Text of the Instrument of Surrender==

==The Text of the Instrument of Surrender==

 

The document, which each signatory signed in his mother language, read as follows:<ref>http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c05.html</ref>

The document, which each signatory signed in his mother language, read as follows: <ref>http://www.ndl.go.jp/constitution/e/etc/c05.html</ref>

{{cquote|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.

{{cquote|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.

Signed at TOKYO BAY, JAPAN at 0904 I on the SECOND day of SEPTEMBER 1945.

Signed at TOKYO BAY, JAPAN at 0904 I on the SECOND day of SEPTEMBER 1945.

[Shigemitsu Mamoru]<br>

Shigemitsu Mamoru<br>

By Command and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government.<br>

By Command and in behalf of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese Government.<br>

[Umezu Yoshijiro]<br>

Umezu Yoshijiro<br>

By Command and in behalf of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters.<br>

By Command and in behalf of the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters.<br>

Accepted at TOKYO BAY, JAPAN at 0908 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.

Accepted at TOKYO BAY, JAPAN at 0908 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.<br>

DOUGLAS MACARTHUR<br>

DOUGLAS MACARTHUR<br>

Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.<br>

Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers.<br>

C. W. NIMITZ<br>

C. W. NIMITZ<br>

United States Representative<br>

United States Representative<br>

[Hsu Yung-Chang]<br>

Hsu Yung-Chang<br>

Republic of China Representative<br>

Republic of China Representative<br>

BRUCE FRASER<br>

BRUCE FRASER<br>

United Kingdom Representative<br>

United Kingdom Representative<br>

[Lieutenant-General K. Derevoyanko]<br>

Lieutenant-General K. Derevoyanko<br>

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Representative<br>

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Representative<br>

T. A. BLAMEY<br>

T. A. BLAMEY<br>

== External links ==

== External links ==

 

*[https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/japanese_surrender_document/ Japanese Instrument of Surrender] at the [[United States National Archives|National Archives]].

*[http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/japanese_surrender_document/ Japanese Instrument of Surrender] at the [[United States National Archives|National Archives]].

==References==

==References==

<small>{{reflist}}</ref>

{{reflist}}