On September 2, 1945, two Japanese officials signed the surrender document in a 23-minute ceremony. They were later convicted of war crimes

The formal end of Japan's war took place on September 2, 1945, during a historic signing ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. This pivotal surrender marked the culmination of years of brutal conflict, with different nations commemorating this date in varying ways each year. Following the surrender, Japan underwent a seven-year occupation by the U.S., eventually leading to strengthened relations and development aid initiatives across Asia.