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As the Japanese prepared to leave USS Missouri, they noticed that one of the Allied delegates had signed their copy of the Instrument of Surrender on the wrong line. This necessitated a brief conference to correct the error, as the other participants began to relax around the surrender table. Then the Japanese descended the ladder to the main deck. At 9:29 AM, following an historic thirty-three minutes on board the ship, they were piped over Missouri's starboard side with the honors due those now officially at peace with the United States. A boat carried them back to USS Lansdowne for the return to shore.
This page presents photographs of correcting the Instrument of Surrender and the departure of the Japanese delegation.
For a special selection of views of the 2 September 1945 Japanese surrender ceremonies, and for links to other views of the ceremonies, see: Formal Surrender of Japan, 2 September 1945 -- Selected and Miscellaneous Views.
For views of other aspects of Japan's surrender, see: Japan Capitulates, August - September 1945
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: SC 212246 Surrender of Japan, Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945 Lieutenant General Richard K. Sutherland, U.S. Army, Chief of Staff to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, makes corrections to the Japanese copy of the Instrument of Surrender, at the conclusion of surrender ceremonies on board USS Missouri (BB-63), 2 September 1945. Japanese Foreign Ministry representatives Katsuo Okazaki (wearing glasses) and Toshikazu Kase are watching from across the table. Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: USA C-4626 (Color) Surrender of Japan, Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945 Japanese Foreign Ministry representatives Katsuo Okazaki and Toshikazu Kase, and Lieutenant General Richard K. Sutherland, U.S. Army, correcting an error on the Japanese copy of the Instrument of Surrender, at the conclusion of the surrender ceremonies, 2 September 1945. Photographed looking forward from USS Missouri's superstructure. Note the relaxed stance of most of those around the surrender table. The larger ship in the right distance is USS Ancon (AGC-4). Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-472629 Surrender of Japan, Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945 The Japanese delegation receives honors as they depart USS Missouri (BB-63) at the conclusion of the surrender ceremonies, 2 September 1945. General Yoshijiro Umezu is in the center, saluting. Photographed by Lieutenant Barrett Gallagher, USNR, from atop Missouri's forward 16-inch gun turret. Note photographers on platforms in the background, band in the lower left and "seahorse" insignia on the shoulder by the Marine in lower right. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 105KB; 620 x 665 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-K-15394 (Color) Surrender of Japan, Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945 The Japanese delegation departing USS Missouri, following the surrender ceremonies. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 515 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
For a special selection of views of the 2 September 1945 Japanese surrender ceremonies, and for links to other views of the ceremonies, see: Formal Surrender of Japan, 2 September 1945 -- Selected and Miscellaneous Views.
For views of other aspects of Japan's surrender, see: Japan Capitulates, August - September 1945
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Links revised 7 March 1999